Mile Markers in California Signify Little

Dear Street Smart:

After traveling extensively throughout the United States and finding mile markers along the freeways of other states to be a great convenience, I would like to know why California does not have them.

In my recollection, it is the only state that does not use mile markers. In remote areas, it is most helpful to know the number of the exit (which coincides with the mile notation) one is looking for, rather than just the name.

Carole Crawford Causer

Mission Viejo

Actually, California does have mile markers. But like a lot of things about the state, they’re hard to understand.

Every California freeway is outfitted with little white signs at intervals ranging from two-tenths of a mile in urban areas to a mile or more in the rural areas.

While some states are nice enough to keep the placards simple, California emblazons its mile posts with an alphabet soup of letters and numbers.

A quick primer: The mile posts in California represent the mileage from either the beginning of a freeway or a county line. They are used to identify major landmarks, bridges, ramps and intersections. The California Highway Patrol uses them to pinpoint accident sites, and California Department of Transportation crews lay out work based on the signposts.

Unfortunately, most of the rest of us just see Greek when we gaze at one of the things. And transportation officials have no plans to make it any easier on us within the foreseeable future. So bon voyage , and have fun knowing where you are after you cross the state line. Driving in California you sure won’t.