No one needs a reminder that leaf season is in full swing.
The beauty of the foliage is on full display in Highlands, and with that comes the yearly issues created by an influx of visitors to local roadways. During the past week, there have been multiple minor vehicle accidents and numerous complaints about congestion created by increased traffic.
Here are some tips to help everyone, resident and visitor, survive leaf season on the roads:
• If there are no parking spaces at Dry Falls, try again later – US 64 in the Cullasaja Gorge has been nothing short of a mess the past two weeks, especially on the weekends, due to would-be waterfall watchers trying to make their way into the Dry Falls parking area. The issue arises when there are no more parking spaces available, yet drivers decide to “park” and wait on the road. While a space may open up in a few seconds, sometimes it takes several minutes, meanwhile traffic backs up and frustrated drivers make bad decisions, like trying to pass stopped vehicles on the shoulder.
• Slow down at Whiteside overlook – In the best of times, Whiteside overlook is not pedestrian friendly. There is room to park half a dozen vehicles, but there is no designated walkway or staging area for visitors wanting to snap a photo of the Bear Shadow or the fall colors. During leaf season it’s not uncommon to take the sweeping left turn heading towards Cashiers only to find pedestrians crossing the road. Slowing down early makes the situation much safer for all involved.
• Put down the cell phone – Among the most dangerous things a driver can do while behind the wheel, texting while driving is even more problematic on Highlands winding and often steep roadways. Equally unsafe is a practice that has been seen several times in recent weeks – taking photos/videos while driving. It should go without saying that documenting a fall mountain drive by video should be left to a passenger, not a driver, unfortunately, seeing a driver with a cell phone out the window or on the dash has become a common occurrence.
While leaf season may only last a few more weeks, major events like Halloween and the Highlands Food and Wine Festival will continue to bring increased traffic to town. Let’s all be patient, drive safely, and enjoy the season.