Keystone Point "Rules of the Road"

An ongoing issue for users of Keystone Point Road is the "Honking Protocol" -- i.e., what is the proper procedure to safely navigate the blind, one-lane road between Highway 18 and the Keystone Point turn-around circle. Who has the right of way? Should I honk? When, where, and how many times? What if someone honks back? What if I meet another car on the road? Lots of questions that must be answered and understood by all Keystone Point users, including cabin visitors, in order to keep us all safe..

We have prepared the following "Rules of the Road" to guide you in your journey up and down Keystone Point Road. Please read these rules carefully and share them with your friends and family. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please let us know if you think that additions or changes to these rules are appropriate.

Keystone Point – “Rules of the Road” (rev. 9/19/2019)
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These “Rules of the Road” are for safety and harmony on the Keystone Point Road, and to minimize noise impacts on nearby cabins. Please read carefully and share this with family and visitors:

1. When preparing to drive up the road, DO NOT honk from the bottom turn-around area, or while directly in front of the nearby cabins. Instead, PAUSE where the road begins its rise adjacent to the Spring Road gate. Then comply with Steps 2-5 below – which apply whether one starts at the top or the bottom of the road.
   
   

2. Before honking, LOWER WINDOWS AND SILENCE THE RADIO AND PASSENGERS. Briefly LISTEN for honk signal from any approaching car – and if you hear one, move out of the way until that car passes.
   
   

3. When road appears clear, HONK YOUR HORN (limited to two short beeps, to reduce nuisance noise), to warn other cars that you are about to proceed. PAUSE again for a few seconds to LISTEN for any responsive honk from any car already on the grade – and if you hear one, move out of the way until that car passes.
   
   

4. If road seems clear, PROCEED WITH CAUTION, BUT CONTINUE TO LISTEN while on the grade. If you then hear a honk from an approaching car, quickly RESPOND WITH ONE SHORT BEEP to signal your priority.
   
   

5. Otherwise, DO NOT use horn further while moving on the grade. Also, DRIVE SLOWLY AT ALL TIMES – do not assume fullright of way – there will be some drivers who have no knowledge of our system. Also, pedestrians may be present along the road.

QUIET NIGHT-TIME USE: When it is dark enough for headlights to light up the road and trees (especially on high beam), that will substitute for horn warnings.

PROBLEMS OR IMPASSE: If these Rules fail for any reason, resulting in cars facing each other while both are on the grade, consider using the wide spot about 1/3 down the grade for passage, and also use common courtesy if any easy retreat is available for either car. For example, if a car heading uphill has advanced up only a quarter of the grade at that time, it should back down to the nearest place to permit passage of the other car. BUT, if all else fails, the basic California driving rule gives priority to the car headinguphill,and requires the car heading downhill to back up to the wide passing spot or to the top of the road.