Bad accident Rice Rd

[QC22]

A couple of comments. I drive Rice Rd every trip. We're at the Landing, and the 10 and Rice Rd. just works way better for me. The 40 is fine, but the 15N on any evening sucks, and 15S on Sunday is ridiculous with the Vegas crowd. Ehrenberg for us would just be plain stupid, although I did use that route when I used to spend a lot of time at Parker and even to Havasu on the AZ side. When towing, it is clearly the easiest on your tow vehicle and trailer as well.

I was on Rice Rd. around 5:00PM last night. No evidence of the accident left that I could see. I do pass as I am never towing, but I will say, the biggest issue is guys that are towing not pulling over when it is safe. The law is 5 vehicles behind you, pull over. No one does that. IMHO selfish drivers, "my time is more important than yours", is the problem. FWIW, I passed a guy towing yesterday, and it so happened that although the opposing side was clear as a bell, there were some vehicles pulled over on the right hand shoulder that I couldn't see. The guy towing pulled over to the left to give the vehicles on the shoulder room while I was alongside him I ended up with my two lefts on the shoulder and I was able to control it very well although my wife was freaking out. Anyway... it was just below the stop sign at 29 Palms turn, and the guy could've let all of the cars pass him there. But noooo, "eff all of the rest of you, my time is more important than yours".

 

[PlanB]

Rice was worse in the early 2000's IMO. We began taking Ehrenberg until the crash of 08 thinned out the traffic considerably. We still take Rice, but we don't tow and we travel mostly on Thursdays and Mondays. Now that CHP works the road on a regular basis the average speed of most vehicles seems to be down. I remember when 90 was about the average, and you never saw a CHP vehicle. I keep an eye on traffic ahead of us, and if I see someone passing, I slow down and prepare to move to the shoulder in needed. If I was still towing I would probably still use Ehrenberg.

 

[Rondog4405]

All of this rice road be. I’ll still drive that road so no worries here. Pay attn and have respect for the road!

IMO it’s not the road that kills, it’s the drivers that kill themselves call it natural selection. If someone was killed by someone else. I still blame the drivers as not driving defensively.

Harsh my mellow

Tru dat!

 

[Ziggy]

Guys, I'm not really busting anybody's balls over their spreading the word, I realize it's human nature to do exactly that.
We all do it, doesn't matter if it's some amazing remote valley, hidden oasis, special fishing hole, or the path least taken, we're apparently wired to spread the news.
Funny how folks will move to some remote place in Idaho or Montana, made special to a large extent due to the lack of people and can't wait to immediately share it with everybody they know

As you probably recall, we too have our special place in some mountain off a well worn historical highway made famous in stories and song.
Human nature urges me to share it with stories and pictures while common sense screams at me "NO, don't do it, or THEY will come"

YES, I absolutely feel the more it's advertised, the more cars, the risk increases, logic dictates it, it's a numbers game.
In the 10 years we've been using "Plan E" as an alternative, there's already far more vehicular traffic than in years past, it's an unavoidable consequence of many factors.

You'd better run 75-80 mph on AZ I-40, or you'll tear your suspension off in the slow lane, or the big rigs will mow you down in the fast --- going with the flow works best !!

We rolled Rice Rd in the 70's, then again for 15 years beginning in the 90's, finally after witnessing the carnage of a series of accidents, we'd had enough.
I've suggested it a few times since, mid-week, broad daylight, just for a change, wife sez no fuckin way.

By nature I'm a contrarian, the more I can avoid the masses, the happier I am. Unfortunately in the past, that lifestyle conflicted with my/our ability to make a good living.
Now that I'm retired and my wife will soon join me, we're more free to escape the masses, that's always been the plan.

But Wait --- not so fast, while we've been waiting for this moment, we've aged ---- and fuck me, who knew, that as we age, the odds of requiring more specialized medical care can seriously screw up even the most well thought out plans. Seems really bright medical specialists, don't tend to live and work on remote mountains

Youthful exuberance to share what they believe in.
Since I don't race along Rice I rarely need to pass anyone. I vigilantly watch what's ahead AND behind me and adjust my own speed to avoid conflict with other vehicle that approach me. I am an active driver, not passive.
Having the luxury to drive it on off times helps too.
The few times I've driven the E route and stayed within a few(~5) mph of the speed limits I've got passed(blown by)by more people than I ever have along Rice.
The job of driving is no different, you have to stay alert no matter what road you're on, plain and simple.

 

[Singleton]

Drive it for all trips. Usually like traveling at night when I can see headlights.
That plus I have slowed down over the years. Realized it is not worth it. Since the speed limit is now 65, I set is at 68 and watch what is coming behind and in front of me. River is not going anywhere so why race to get to and leave it

 

[stephenkatsea]

I don't think its a concern that the Rice people will go the E route, very few will come (like the church pamphlets) ….. this is a way of life for them, rice rd is part of the river …. their parents and grandparents came that way and that's just the way it is!!

Actually, I believe prior to Rice RD the common route passed thru Hell CA. That's the road my parents took to the Parker Strip. But, I do recall it. The lady at Magoo's knew about it. I'm told that road was somewhere between Desert Center and Blythe and old sections still remain out there.

 

[Lucky Larry]

All of this rice road be. I’ll still drive that road so no worries here. Pay attn and have respect for the road!

IMO it’s not the road that kills, it’s the drivers that kill themselves call it natural selection. If someone was killed by someone else. I still blame the drivers as not driving defensively.

Harsh my mellow

What a stupid statement.The chp officer that went to school with my wife was killed by someone passing over a double yellow line.My friend David was killed by an idiot passing over a double yellow both on rice road.No defensive driving would have saved them. We went that way once on a Tuesday after that thinking traffic would be light and it was but the Range Rover thought my 75 was too slow so he passed us over a double yellow.No more for me my family means more than that to me.You do realize that if you speed and maybe pass those couple of cars you maybe will get there 10 minutes sooner........maybe

 

[Bpracing1127]

What a stupid statement.The chp officer that went to school with my wife was killed by someone passing over a double yellow line.My friend David was killed by an idiot passing over a double yellow both on rice road.No defensive driving would have saved them. We went that way once on a Tuesday after that thinking traffic would be light and it was but the Range Rover thought my 75 was too slow so he passed us over a double yellow.No more for me my family means more than that to me.You do realize that if you speed and maybe pass those couple of cars you maybe will get there 10 minutes sooner........maybe

It’s not about getting there sooner per se it’s more about not being around a million other cars. Or letting cars stack up behind a truck. People get impatient and pass on double yellow. That is one thing I don’t do. Do I drive fast? Yes! Do I pass? You bet your ass!

Defensive driving is being aware of your surroundings and being able to react to all scenarios. Being on cruise control at 75 eyes wide open is NOT defensive driving! That’s cruising.

I am sorry for your losses doesn’t change the fact that drivers kill the selves or others not the road!

 

[Taboma]

Actually, I believe prior to Rice RD the common route passed thru Hell CA. That's the road my parents took to the Parker Strip. But, I do recall it. The lady at Magoo's knew about it. I'm told that road was somewhere between Desert Center and Blythe and old sections still remain out there.

Here's all I could find on "Hell" -- been gone since the late 50's

Hell is a locale in Riverside County, California, United States, approximately 29 miles (47 km) west of Blythe on Interstate 10.

History[edit]
Hell was founded by Charles Carr in 1954. As of 1958 Carr, his wife, and their ten-year-old son Terry were the only inhabitants. Charles Carr served as the lone member of Hell's Chamber of Commerce.

Hell was abandoned in the late 1950s or early 1960s when it was isolated by the construction of U.S. Route 60 and U.S. 70. Its remains were demolished and burned by the California State Division of Highways in late 1964 to make way for what would eventually become Interstate 10. Before its demise, Hell had a service station, a beer tavern, and a good supply of drinking water.[2]

Going by the aerials of today, it seems it's a great site for a bunch of sq miles of solar panels.

 

[Ziggy]

What a stupid statement.The chp officer that went to school with my wife was killed by someone passing over a double yellow line.My friend David was killed by an idiot passing over a double yellow both on rice road.No defensive driving would have saved them. We went that way once on a Tuesday after that thinking traffic would be light and it was but the Range Rover thought my 75 was too slow so he passed us over a double yellow.No more for me my family means more than that to me.You do realize that if you speed and maybe pass those couple of cars you maybe will get there 10 minutes sooner........maybe

No disrespect but if you believe a double yellow is a safety barrier you are not driving defensively.
The officer killed was also a blind hill. I always feel bad cuz the dumb kid that caused it coming home from a mini-truck rally(or whatever) was from my city.

 

[stephenkatsea]

The shoulders are non existent or extremely soft in many areas. That's just the status of the road and less safe than other routes.

 

[Lucky Larry]

No disrespect but if you believe a double yellow is a safety barrier you are not driving defensively.
The officer killed was also a blind hill. I always feel bad cuz the dumb kid that caused it coming home from a mini-truck rally(or whatever) was from my city.

Point is Can’t fix stupid and passing on a double yellow doesn’t help Really what are going to do if it takes you 10 minutes longer?

 

[stephenkatsea]

Here's all I could find on "Hell" -- been gone since the late 50's

Hell is a locale in Riverside County, California, United States, approximately 29 miles (47 km) west of Blythe on Interstate 10.

History[edit]
Hell was founded by Charles Carr in 1954. As of 1958 Carr, his wife, and their ten-year-old son Terry were the only inhabitants. Charles Carr served as the lone member of Hell's Chamber of Commerce.

Hell was abandoned in the late 1950s or early 1960s when it was isolated by the construction of U.S. Route 60 and U.S. 70. Its remains were demolished and burned by the California State Division of Highways in late 1964 to make way for what would eventually become Interstate 10. Before its demise, Hell had a service station, a beer tavern, and a good supply of drinking water.[2]

Going by the aerials of today, it seems it's a great site for a bunch of sq miles of solar panels.

That's the place. They had a sign that said, "Hell Calif, population 3 people, 4 dogs, 6 cats and 1 duck". Or something like that. Back then it was just another part of the river experience.

 

[Taboma]

It’s not about getting there sooner per se it’s more about not being around a million other cars. Or letting cars stack up behind a truck. People get impatient and pass on double yellow. That is one thing I don’t do. Do I drive fast? Yes! Do I pass? You bet your ass!

Defensive driving is being aware of your surroundings and being able to react to all scenarios. Being on cruise control at 75 eyes wide open is NOT defensive driving! That’s cruising.

I am sorry for your losses doesn’t change the fact that drivers kill the selves or others not the road!

You are truly delusional if you think you've got it all under control due to your amazing defensive driving skills Yes, I realize feeling as if we're in control is extremely comforting. So sure, just keep telling yourself that
Of course I certainly hope your self-confidence, however displaced, is never proven as such.

 

[Justfishing]

To bad money is spent on a train to nowhere but money cant be found to fix an inadequate road

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

You are truly delusional if you think you've got it all under control due to your amazing defensive driving skills Yes, I realize feeling as if we're in control is extremely comforting. So sure, just keep telling yourself that
Of course I certainly hope your self-confidence, however displaced, is never proven as such. View attachment 749215

They are called accidents for a reason, however, there is an entire desert run off area. I’ll take my chances at a shallow angle into soft sand before aggressive swerving playing chicken with a car coming at me.

Not every traffic incident is avoidable.

If you want to reduce your chance of a head on collision, people should take the 40.

 

[Taboma]

Since it's been many years since we've driven Rice Road, I'm curious. Are the big rigs still rolling that road ?
Back in the late 90's, even driving RR during mid-day, mid-week, we often found ourselves in a rolling race with big-rigs.
On two separate occasions it got a bit dicey. Think the old 70's movie "Duel" ----

We're rolling along RR doing around 70, I think the speed limit was 55 back then (I could be wrong) -- anyway, next thing ya know this MFer is coming up hard and on our ass. He passes, fine, then in a mile or two there's a slight grade, he's slowed a bunch and we're back on his ass, so I pass him. This time I accelerate and run at 75 MPH, within a few miles the prick is once again shoving my ass down the road --- he passes, we pass, got to be like Ground Hog Day --- by now I'm running at fuckin 90 and lose him in the rear view -- and fuck me, down slope and here he comes again. Finally I got a lead and blew off at 62 to 29 Palms, never saw the whacko again.
But this happened TWICE, mid week, barely another car (Think witness) on the road --- and of course by the time I lost him, all I could picture was that movie and this truck

 

[Bpracing1127]

You are truly delusional if you think you've got it all under control due to your amazing defensive driving skills Yes, I realize feeling as if we're in control is extremely comforting. So sure, just keep telling yourself that
Of course I certainly hope your self-confidence, however displaced, is never proven as such. View attachment 749215

Same goes for every road you drive on, it’s part of the risk we take. I choose to accept the risk given what it is. If you are not comfortable with the risk there is “E” road or the 40.

Another option is stay home in the bubble and live that way.

There are risk to everything we do, not realizing them and accepting them is stupidity.

 

[milkmoney]

First off , I am sorry for anybody and everybody that has lost family and friends on this rice rd........

Now with that said. That road has been what it is and will never change, so to continue to think that you will change the road and the way people will drive on it , is absolutely udderly ridiculous..... as stated go a different route.



Although cali has nice weather.

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[LargeOrangeFont]

First off , I am sorry for anybody and everybody that has lost family and friends on this rice rd........

Now with that said. That road has been what it is and will never change, so to continue to think that you will change the road and the way people will drive on it , is absolutely udderly ridiculous..... as stated go a different route.



Although cali has nice weather.

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Udderly... I see.

 

[Taboma]

They are called accidents for a reason, however, there is an entire desert run off area. I’ll take my chances at a shallow angle into soft sand before aggressive swerving playing chicken with a car coming at me.

Not every incident is avoidable.

If you want to reduce your chance of a head on collision, people should take the 40.

I 40 is not really a great solution from San Diego, even the lower route on 8 takes us pretty far out of the way --- no thanks, we're very happy with our current route --- for now, until all the RR crew discover it, lol

 

[stephenkatsea]

Rice Road has inherent safety issues. Add people towing at speeds beyond the rated speed of the trailer tires. Excessive summer pavement heat doesn't help. Those who elect to drive Rice RD, when not towing, at speeds in excess of 75 mph are not defensive drivers. They're asinine

 

[Ziggy]

Point is Can’t fix stupid and passing on a double yellow doesn’t help Really what are going to do if it takes you 10 minutes longer?

Agreed, can't fix stupid.
It's not about time, I don't drive fast enough to make time plus I always stop along the way for a dog potty.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I 40 is not really a great solution from San Diego, even the lower route on 8 takes us pretty far out of the way --- no thanks, we're very happy with our current route --- for now, until all the RR crew discover it, lol

Agreed.. but it is certainly safer if not the safest route to take. We established we are not in a race to get there, the river will still be there, who cares about a few extra minutes.

So the question is how much time is someone willing to sacrifice for a potentially safer route? That will be different for everyone.

You have found a preferred time to chance of death ratio that works for you on the route you take.

 

[Ziggy]

Drive it for all trips. Usually like traveling at night when I can see headlights.
That plus I have slowed down over the years. Realized it is not worth it. Since the speed limit is now 65, I set is at 68 and watch what is coming behind and in front of me. River is not going anywhere so why race to get to and leave it

I set at 69....

 

[Taboma]

Same goes for every road you drive on, it’s part of the risk we take. I choose to accept the risk given what it is. If you are not comfortable with the risk there is “E” road or the 40.

Another option is stay home in the bubble and live that way.

There are risk to everything we do, not realizing them and accepting them is stupidity.

Now wait, you're changing the scenario here --- you were bragging that your defensive driving skills could save you regardless of the action of others --- of course there's risk, you're making my point exactly -- thank you

I'm fully aware I can't control every circumstance, I worked a job for 46 years where one oops could kill you --- the best we can hope for is that our skills and planning, mitigate the odds of the things we can not control. That's the best we can do --- who the fuck is suggesting we live in a bubble ? Nobody gets out alive.

 

[milkmoney]

I set at 69....

Wine em , dine em , 69 em [emoji39][emoji202]

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[Ziggy]

I 40 is not really a great solution from San Diego, even the lower route on 8 takes us pretty far out of the way --- no thanks, we're very happy with our current route --- for now, until all the RR crew discover it, lol

Do you go through Beaumont?
I usually take the Anza route or occasionally go through Borrego Springs/Mecca(not since box canyon flooded tho)

 

[Taboma]

Agreed.. but it is certainly safer if not the safest route to take. We established we are not in a race to get there, the river will still be there, who cares about a few extra minutes.

So the question is how much time is someone willing to sacrifice for a potentially safer route? That will be different for everyone.

If you're suggesting that for us driving I-15 ("The" removed for the Cheeseheads ) through Riverside, then I-40 is safer than our current route I would strongly disagree.
In the past 10 years I've not seen even the aftermath of any wrecks either going to or returning home from Havasu --- we're golden, for now anyway.

 

[Ziggy]

Wine em , dine em , 69 em [emoji39][emoji202]

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Don't get your hopes up......although, you are heading to norcal aren't you?

 

[Taboma]

Do you go through Beaumont?
I usually take the Anza route or occasionally go through Borrego Springs/Mecca(not since box canyon flooded tho)

We've found that leaving here in No Co SD around 8AM on either a Sat, Sun, or weekday, on I-15, to 215, to Newport Rd, then through Hemet to I-10 to "E-hiway" --- has proven to work extremely well for us. No-stress drive, traffic rolls consistent, plenty of stops ---- we like to stop and stretch our legs, take a piss, we're in no hurry.
I'd say the only occasional wake up would be the big rigs passing on I-10 heading up towards the summit --- but knowing they're going to cut you off if they're even close to coming up on another rig helps --- so we back off and wait it out. Once past the summit, it's an Ez- roll for sure.
We used to head through Temecula, but holy shit is that a mess with 100 signals on Winchester now.
We usually roll out of Havasu by 10 AM, again, it's a nice ride home.
We've taken some back roads from time to time, my wife doesn't really enjoy the Pines to Palm descent riding the guard rail The San Diego back roads used to be wonderful to drive --- USED TO BE, being the key, especially weekends now-a-days, what a shit show.

 

[rivermobster]

I drove home out Rice Rd, Saturday, left around 5pm. I think we saw three or four other cars the whole drive. Drove out the Sunday morning before, only had to deal with the semi trucks.

Anyone heard anything about the accident victims? Sure hope everyone survived.

 

[Ziggy]

We've found that leaving here in No Co SD around 8AM on either a Sat, Sun, or weekday, on I-15, to 215, to Newport Rd, then through Hemet to I-10 to "E-hiway" --- has proven to work extremely well for us. No-stress drive, traffic rolls consistent, plenty of stops ---- we like to stop and stretch our legs, take a piss, we're in no hurry.
I'd say the only occasional wake up would be the big rigs passing on I-10 heading up towards the summit --- but knowing they're going to cut you off if they're even close to coming up on another rig helps --- so we back off and wait it out. Once past the summit, it's an Ez- roll for sure.
We used to head through Temecula, but holy shit is that a mess with 100 signals on Winchester now.
We usually roll out of Havasu by 10 AM, again, it's a nice ride home.
We've taken some back roads from time to time, my wife doesn't really enjoy the Pines to Palm descent riding the guard rail The San Diego back roads used to be wonderful to drive --- USED TO BE, being the key, especially weekends now-a-days, what a shit show.

If I go Newport road I take Warren rd and not Sanderson, took that route a lot earlier, and during a vertigo bout wifey was having. Winchester thru temecula is a joke.
I enjoy the curvy roads still, have our usual pee stops especially when the dog is with us.
I-10 bores me. The more interactive roads keep me more on point.
From Oside it's 5hrs + with no stops

 

[Taboma]

If I go Newport road I take Warren rd and not Sanderson, took that route a lot earlier, and during a vertigo bout wifey was having. Winchester thru temecula is a joke.
I enjoy the curvy roads still, have our usual pee stops especially when the dog is with us.
I-10 bores me. The more interactive roads keep me more on point.
From Oside it's 5hrs + with no stops

I agree on Warren road, mostly because we enjoy the fresh morning dairy aroma I think of Milkmoney along that section and marvel at how he does it, LOL
Years ago we got into listening to audio books going and coming, we always do something like a Cussler, or Jack Reacher (Lee), Vince Flynn, in abridged format so it moves along.
Great entertainment yet not visually distracting.
I think Pines to Palm is fun, but my wife doesn't really enjoy it, I'm all about pleasing her when choices allow.
What roads are you taking when you go Borrego ? Of course this spring that route would have been a mess with all the wildflower huggers.

 

[Ziggy]

I agree on Warren road, mostly because we enjoy the fresh morning dairy aroma I think of Milkmoney along that section and marvel at how he does it, LOL
Years ago we got into listening to audio books going and coming, we always do something like a Cussler, or Jack Reacher (Lee), Vince Flynn, in abridged format so it moves along.
Great entertainment yet not visually distracting.
I think Pines to Palm is fun, but my wife doesn't really enjoy it, I'm all about pleasing her when choices allow.
What roads are you taking when you go Borrego ? Of course this spring that route would have been a mess with all the wildflower huggers.

Your wife would not like it. We take 76 east past lake henshaw, 79 to the S2 then left on S22 through Ranchita and down what's called the glass elevator into Borrego Springs continuing on towards Salton sea.

 

[Socalx09]

you can’t control when an accident happens. It just does. The best driver in the world who is trying to predict all scenarios can still get in an accident because another person wasn’t giving a damn. Or, a tire blew out. You just don’t know. But you can reduce the risk. My dad was struck head on by a motorcycle crossing the lines, he had no idea when he was coming from Havasu to Parker on a corner what was about to happen. It just happened.

Rice road is just a road. Theres a risk to driving any road, but those risks increase on a major weekend. More cars, tired drivers rushing back home. It all adds up to more risk.

Most people who are in a rush don’t want to take the extra 20 mins to go a different route. They don’t want to have to slow down like in ethrenberg. So being on that road reduces the risk since you may have eliminated the people who are in a rush and are more likely to speed and take risk.

Just like going down to pirates on a holiday weekend. You know the route, which lines to take, which corners to watch out for other boats, it doesn’t matter because the risk is higher that weekend. You can eliminate a lot of that risk by going during the week, but it’s still a choice you make.

Everything is a risk, but you can certainly reduce your risk for your family and yourself when you add up all the variables.

 

[brgrcru]

Since it's been many years since we've driven Rice Road, I'm curious. Are the big rigs still rolling that road ?
Back in the late 90's, even driving RR during mid-day, mid-week, we often found ourselves in a rolling race with big-rigs.
On two separate occasions it got a bit dicey. Think the old 70's movie "Duel" ----
View attachment 749216

We're rolling along RR doing around 70, I think the speed limit was 55 back then (I could be wrong) -- anyway, next thing ya know this MFer is coming up hard and on our ass. He passes, fine, then in a mile or two there's a slight grade, he's slowed a bunch and we're back on his ass, so I pass him. This time I accelerate and run at 75 MPH, within a few miles the prick is once again shoving my ass down the road --- he passes, we pass, got to be like Ground Hog Day --- by now I'm running at fuckin 90 and lose him in the rear view -- and fuck me, down slope and here he comes again. Finally I got a lead and blew off at 62 to 29 Palms, never saw the whacko again.
But this happened TWICE, mid week, barely another car (Think witness) on the road --- and of course by the time I lost him, all I could picture was that movie and this truck

I knew it . there had to be another great story.

plus the movie duel. seen it a few times. it just was one of those channel stoppers.

 

[NicPaus]

I passed the accident spot on way home. No crosses up yet so not sure outcome. It was at the turn after the long straight away after first stop sign.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

If you're suggesting that for us driving I-15 ("The" removed for the Cheeseheads ) through Riverside, then I-40 is safer than our current route I would strongly disagree.
In the past 10 years I've not seen even the aftermath of any wrecks either going to or returning home from Havasu --- we're golden, for now anyway.

The amount of actual accidents Vs. The amount of cars traveling on the road is the least on the interstates. They are the best maintained roads, well patrolled, and will have the best response times for emergency services.

No set of 2 lane roads or state highways cutting through the desert can touch any of that, nor are you are in any risk of a head on collision on the 15 to 40 route, until you turn off the 40 to drive into Havasu.

I understand that route makes no sense for you, but you’d also probably tow a utility trailer with a half ton truck, at 60 MPH instead of an F-750 and 50 MPH like you should, and endanger everyone on the road with you.

 

[milkmoney]

Don't get your hopes up......although, you are heading to norcal aren't you?

I have no more hope.........no I am not going near that person....[emoji39][emoji202]

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[Big Chorizo]

Bottom line is that Rice Rd. is safe, it’s the people that are speeding and passing recklessly that make driving it sometimes un safe. People that aren’t towing don’t want to be stuck behind someone who is towing below the posted speed limit like they should be. At that point, the person towing has 10 cars behind them and you get people trying to pass all 10 cars in one shot. I’ve witnessed numerous close calls from this exact scenario. The other factor is there’s no spots really for anyone who is towing to safely pull over to let cars pass. Yeah you can wait until the 29 palms cut off but by then most everyone’s passed you. If I’m towing and cars are building up I would almost have to come to a complete stop in order to use what useless shoulder is provided, to me that just as unsafe as the idiots who pass recklessly. Especially the family’s with the big RV’s, their not going to use the shoulder to pull over. Some areas are to steep or too sandy and even both. Not that it matters but just my 2 cents, people just need to make safe logical decisions.

 

[Taboma]

The amount of actual accidents Vs. The amount of cars traveling on the road is the least on the interstates. They are the best maintained roads, well patrolled, and will have the best response times for emergency services.

No set of 2 lane roads or state highways cutting through the desert can touch any of that, nor are you are in any risk of a head on collision on the 15 to 40 route, until you turn off the 40 to drive into Havasu.

I understand that route makes no sense for you, but you’d also probably tow a utility trailer with a half ton truck, at 60 MPH instead of an F-750 and 50 MPH like you should, and endanger everyone on the road with you.

Sez the guy with a V8 Mazda to another guy who had a V8 Mazda --- sheesh, I'm old, not dead --- YET

 

[Ziggy]

I have no more hope.........no I am not going near that person....[emoji39][emoji202]

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There's more than one up there, you got good odds

 

[milkmoney]

There's more than one up there, you got good odds

I will pass ...... but glad you care [emoji39][emoji202]

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[boatdoc55]

I don't think its a concern that the Rice people will go the E route, very few will come (like the church pamphlets) ….. this is a way of life for them, rice rd is part of the river …. their parents and grandparents came that way and that's just the way it is!!

So true. It WAS a way of life for me in my younger days. The wife and I took a 25 year hiatus from the Southwest and returning 4 years ago when we moved to Havasu we found that way was NOT for us any longer. We now take the "E" road when going back over to SoCal.

 

[QC22]

The other factor is there’s no spots really for anyone who is towing to safely pull over to let cars pass. Yeah you can wait until the 29 palms cut off but by then most everyone’s passed you.

Near the Shoe Fence and both RR track crossings are reasonable. Stop at 29 Palms turn is another. I agree, none are perfect. We don't usually leave as early was we did this Sunday. If we leave after 5:00 PM, it's rarely that congested. We usually go out Thursday night, and also not bad.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Sez the guy with a V8 Mazda to another guy who had a V8 Mazda --- sheesh, I'm old, not dead --- YET

You should drive faster then.. you have less time than me!

 

[Ziggy]

First off , I am sorry for anybody and everybody that has lost family and friends on this rice rd........

Now with that said. That road has been what it is and will never change, so to continue to think that you will change the road and the way people will drive on it , is absolutely udderly ridiculous..... as stated go a different route.



Although cali has nice weather.

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I've been udderly surprised how much less high speed driving I've seen on it in recent years. Way less with trailers.
Not that there isn't still some invincible knuckleheads.
I'd guess more enforcement has helped

 

[Taboma]

You should drive faster then.. you have less time than me!

True that On the other hand, as fast as my life clock seems to be spinning, I've got far less time to be spending it in recovery
Choices get REAL when you get old ---- tick tock tick tock

 

[Ziggy]

Rice Road has inherent safety issues. Add people towing at speeds beyond the rated speed of the trailer tires. Excessive summer pavement heat doesn't help. Those who elect to drive Rice RD, when not towing, at speeds in excess of 75 mph are not defensive drivers. They're asinine

I used to stop and drop off goodies to Marty. I always asked and always he said the same, chp told him they won't bother at 5 over, 75 will get you lit up.