Sampson Road Association

The Road Use Guidelines of Sampson Road

05/17/2002
To: Sampson Road Association Landowners and New Residents

From: Your Neighbors

In our neighborhood we all take pride in building, remodeling or maintaining our homes and properties. During construction, contractors and their employees use our community road, maybe unintentionally damaging it or creating a hazard to other residents. We have had an unwritten understanding that a resident who hires a contractor will ensure that damage to the road, gate, culverts, buried sensors, etc. is repaired. In an effort to avoid these problems, we've developed a few guidelines for the use of our community roads.

Before your contractors begin work, please be sure that they receive and understand the attached Road Use Guidelines. As fellow residents, mutually responsible for our community roads, we can all benefit from observing these guidelines.

ROAD USE GUIDELINES

Sampson Road, Sunburst Drive, and Mill Hollow Road are private thoroughfares over multiple private properties. Supervision of the road is the responsibility and authority of Sampson Road Association, Inc., under a Court Order, and Sunburst Road Association, Inc., under covenants. The Associations are staffed by elected landowners who are not paid. The entire cost of road maintenance and development is the burden of the landowners; there is no public money available.

Because these private roads are essentially a "group driveway," we ask that you extend courtesy to the owners by observing the following guidelines.

SPEED The posted speed limit is 15 mph. Even under normal conditions, loose gravel, mud, or slippery conditions reduce a vehicle's ability to stop on these roads. Because of steep, narrow and blind sections, speeds above 15 mph do not permit enough reaction time for reasonable safety. Higher speed, particularly in two-wheel drive, light vehicles (which generally includes all pickups) does damage to the road.

SUFFICIENT EQUIPMENT During times of snow and freezing temperatures, the roads can be extremely dangerous. Drivers are expected to use sufficient equipment such as chains, 4-wheel drive, studded tires, etc. to prevent mishaps. Every year there are multiple collisions, road blockages, and over-the-side skids. Furthermore, damage to the road surfaces occurs due to improper driving techniques. "Washboarding" and potholes may be reduced by use of 4-wheel drive and gradual acceleration, especially when driving uphill.

RIGHT OF WAY State motor vehicle regulations specify rights-of-way for mountain driving; the up-hill vehicle has the right-of-way. However, the interests of safety require use of common sense. Users of these roads generally respect each other by considering factors such as steepness, closeness of wide pullover spots, current conditions of the road, weather, vehicle maneuverability, etc. During plowing operations, please make every effort to yield to plowing vehicles.

TRACKED OR HEAVY VEHICLES At several locations on both sides of the gates are sensors buried at a shallow depth. Tracked vehicles should be transported by a suitable vehicle, such as truck or trailer, to avoid damage to gate sensors and the road surface. If you have any questions about avoiding damage to the gates or sensors please contact the Association's current President.

RESPONSIBILITY Users of the road assume liability for their use of these private roads. The expectation is that any damage to the roads, gates, culverts, etc., will be remedied by the responsible drivers, their employed companies or individuals or their insurance providers. Drivers of tracked vehicles are responsible for all damage caused by their vehicles. Drivers of concrete trucks must remove or repair spillage from their vehicles.

TURNAROUND LOCATIONS We know that these roads present a challenge to the drivers of oversized vehicles and it is helpful to identify areas where large vehicles might turn around safely.

COMMON (mavbe not-so-common) COURTESY Several times a year, we gather as a community to maintain the appearance of our roads and the surrounding areas. Please do not dump trash along the road. Just enjoy its natural beauty!

If you have a need to travel the road at an extremely low speed, you may want to pull over in one of the turnarounds to let others pass.  

05/17/02.

Mountain Road Protocol

     When 2 vehicles meet on a narrow mountain road, the vehicle going DOWN should stop then back up, allowing the vehicle going UP to pass. It is too dangerous to back down a mountain road.