Exit signs on interstates

[hotdogPi]

Exit signs always seem to say a multiple of 1/4 mile if it is an interstate. However, I have seen "3/8 mile", "1/3 mile", "800 feet", and "Next right" on non-interstates. Is this some kind of interstate standard?

[pianocello]

Not that I know of. I've seen both feet and irregular fractions of miles on interstates in Illinois alone.

1/3 mile north of where 74, 80, and 280 meet each other in Colona: http://goo.gl/maps/dRV8Z

Along the Kennedy Expy in Downtown Chicago, the exits are too close to use miles, so feet are used instead: http://goo.gl/maps/iojV3

My guess is that quarters of miles are used because of convenience.

[hotdogPi]

At least you haven't seen irrational fractions of miles, since that would be really strange. (Exit 33, π/2 miles!)

[1995hoo]

The smallest numerical value I've seen was 1/10 of a mile on westbound I-66 in Virginia approaching I-495. The sign was recently removed as part of interchange reconstruction.

[Kacie Jane]

I think quarters of a mile are a "standard" of sorts whether the freeway is an interstate or not... or whether the road is a freeway or not for that matter.  Though I put "standard" in quotes, because there are numerous exceptions (including on interstates), many of which were previously discussed here.

[ET21]

I've seen 1/8 mile used (I-290 East, I-294 south exit)

[froggie]

Per the MUTCD, the standard is increments of 1/4 mile.  In layman's terms, the MUTCD recommends this, but does not outright require it.  As a general rule in my experience, 1/5, 1/3, and 2/3 are acceptable, but other fractions are discouraged, though some states will still use them.

[Scott5114]

Oklahoma is quite fond of "NEXT RIGHT" (and even "SECOND RIGHT" where applicable).

[vdeane]

Rochester has a bunch:
4/10: http://goo.gl/maps/xT927
3/10: http://goo.gl/maps/WgQFA
2/10: http://goo.gl/maps/svlvl
4/10: http://goo.gl/maps/VokwR

[Scott5114]

Okay, I think that's the first time I've seen non-reduced fractions...

[signalman]

I don't think I've ever seen non-reduced fractions on signs either.  In the case of 2/10 and 4/10, I think 1/4 and 1/2 respectively would have been close enough.  The reduced versions of 1/5 and 2/5 would be far too hard to visualize for the average driver (me included) at highway speeds.
However, after seeing these signs, I have a new interest in clinching I-490.  It's been on my "to drive" list for NY, but not a huge priority.  I have moved this highway up higher on my priority list before the signs get replaced with more traditional fractions.

[roadman65]

Most signs I have seen have been standardized to quarter, half, and whole increments.  I do remember when 500 feet, 2/10, and other strange unit numbers were used, but NEXT RIGHT seems to be more used now than ever for less than 1/4 mile.

I have not seen NEXT EXIT used in a while that was once big on smaller expressways or supplemental guide signs.   The exit number is now used on supplemental, although the NJ Turnpike always loved to use "EXIT X FOR X" on their aides which I used to think was interesting!

[1995hoo]

In a way, non-reduced tenths make a lot of sense because odometers measure in tenths (if they show portions of a mile). I'd find a sign saying x/10 a lot more useful than a sign using eighths of a mile, fifths of a mile, or feet.

[signalman]

In a way, non-reduced tenths make a lot of sense because odometers measure in tenths (if they show portions of a mile). I'd find a sign saying x/10 a lot more useful than a sign using eighths of a mile, fifths of a mile, or feet.

Good point.  I never considered the tenths counter on odometers.  Probably because the only tenths counter I have in my car are on the trip odometers. 

[roadman]

Oklahoma is quite fond of "NEXT RIGHT" (and even "SECOND RIGHT" where applicable).

The use of "NEXT RIGHT" and "SECOND RIGHT" originated with the original 1955 Interstate guide signing standards, and was commonly used on signs before exit numbers were adopted.  The current MUTCD still allows for use of such legends in lieu of distances on advance signs to Interstate entrances on secondary roads, and on services signing.

[Alps]

Per the MUTCD, the standard is increments of 1/4 mile.  In layman's terms, the MUTCD recommends this, but does not outright require it.  As a general rule in my experience, 1/5, 1/3, and 2/3 are acceptable, but other fractions are discouraged, though some states will still use them.

That's more of a VA thing with the weird fractions. Most places stick to 1/4 miles or go down to feet (500, 750, 1000 are the most common). If anything, I'd say 1/8 or 3/8 is more common than your 5ths and 3rds.

[Brandon]

In a way, non-reduced tenths make a lot of sense because odometers measure in tenths (if they show portions of a mile). I'd find a sign saying x/10 a lot more useful than a sign using eighths of a mile, fifths of a mile, or feet.

True, but in many places, blocks are 8 to a mile, thus there's a simple conversion of 1/4 mile equals 2 blocks.

[1995hoo]

In a way, non-reduced tenths make a lot of sense because odometers measure in tenths (if they show portions of a mile). I'd find a sign saying x/10 a lot more useful than a sign using eighths of a mile, fifths of a mile, or feet.

True, but in many places, blocks are 8 to a mile, thus there's a simple conversion of 1/4 mile equals 2 blocks.

Maybe, but if you're out on the Interstate or a similar road (as this thread presumes with the subject line "Exit signs on Interstates"), that doesn't help! 

I live in a suburban area, so "blocks" are an amorphous concept. We'll use phrases like "go around the block" or "pass the condo development and then we're on the third block on the left," or "they're at the end of the block on the left side of the T-intersection," but in all those cases it's more along the lines of a synonym for "street" rather than a block grid like you'd see in a city.

[Avalanchez71]

I seem to recall a 7/10 of a mile at the I-95 to Florida's Turnpike "Breezewood" junction in the eighties.

[roadman65]

I seem to recall a 7/10 of a mile at the I-95 to Florida's Turnpike "Breezewood" junction in the eighties.

I assume you mean the SR 70 connection at Fort Pierce?

[Avalanchez71]

That is the one.  I seem to remember that when I was a kid.  The 7/10 of mile is something I just recall for some reason.

[jdb1234]

I've seen 1/8 mile on US 280 @ I-459

[briantroutman]

I've seen tenths used many times in urban areas where spacing between exits is less than a quarter mile. Such as this example on I-676 in Philadelphia which shows an upcoming exit as being 9/10. Obviously, the reason for the odd number is to make it clear that the 8th Street ramp comes just before the Ben Franklin Bridge ramps. In a more rural area, I'm sure PennDOT would have either moved the sign back a bit or just faked it and listed the distance as 1 mile. There are two subsequent signs (2nd, 3rd) that maintain the 1/10th gap.

As 1995hoo pointed out, tenths are listed on most vehicles trip odometers and are easier to use if you're actually trying to track distances. I'd much rather see tenths in an urban zone than quarters or eighths. In more rural areas, you rarely see distances other than whole miles or 1/2, and that's specific enough to estimate "about a minute" or "about 30 seconds" at 60 mph. In city centers, though, that 1/2 can sometimes translate to 10 or 20 minutes.

Oklahoma is quite fond of "NEXT RIGHT"

These signs are quickly disappearing, but I remember that many of the old non-reflective-backed button copy guides in PA seemed to use a numerical distance only on the first guide in the sequence, then the rest would have action phrases. A typical guide sequence might have

"PA 54 - Danville - 2 MILES"
then at the 1-mile mark
"PA 54 - Danville - RIGHT LANE"
and at about 1/4 from the ramp
"PA 54 - Danville - NEXT RIGHT"
then a final sign with an arrow at the gore.

The "RIGHT LANE" part of the sequence always irritated me, because there would always be an elderly woman puttering along at 52 mph in her Plymouth Reliant, she'd see that sign and say "Gee, I'm not going to Danville..." and of course, move over to the left lane.

[Duke87]

In a way, non-reduced tenths make a lot of sense because odometers measure in tenths (if they show portions of a mile). I'd find a sign saying x/10 a lot more useful than a sign using eighths of a mile, fifths of a mile, or feet.

Good point.  I never considered the tenths counter on odometers.  Probably because the only tenths counter I have in my car are on the trip odometers.

It's also perhaps an extra mental step to take since we insist on continuing to use fractions instead of decimals when the idea is archaic in most of the rest of the world. "4/10 mile" is more useful than "2/5 mile", but "0.4 miles" would be even more intuitive to relate to an odometer.

To your average international visitor, saying "two fifths" instead of "zero point four" sounds about as old fashioned as saying "quarter past six" instead of "six fifteen" sounds to us.

[NE2]

Has the rest of the world really fallen that far? I prefer to think the glass is point-five full, er...