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[Roadgeekteen]

Someone should vet me, but I think I got it...

Has to do with the way Oregon's speed law is/was written. Oregon uses a "Basic Rule" for speed limits. Basically, Oregon has no statutory speed limit, with the only limit being "reasonable and prudent" plus several other factors (but none being a fixed limit, hence why there was no "LIMIT" wording). You could conceivably exceed the posted "limits", but exceeding the posted speed was prima-facie evidence for a speeding ticket, so it wasn't like Montana.

But things have changed...

As of 2003, it is illegal (according to ORS 811.111) to exceed 65 on interstates (or whatever else is posted), or 55 on other roads that aren't otherwise posted (plus a few other situations). I think this new law is why "LIMIT" is showing up on more signs.

"ilegal"

[Gnutella]

PennDOT has colored detour routes in the event of major highway closures, and also has blue-on-white jurisdiction signs for every country, city, borough, township and village.

[bzakharin]

Not a DOT, but for some reason the NYS Thruway Authority took it upon themselves to post "New Jersey State Line" signs at both places its jurisdiction touches the state:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1134181,-74.162377,3a,75y,205.64h,85.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBc0nGehS56w2wT5nuJRV-Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0664544,-74.0570977,3a,75y,196.85h,86.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skjLUWVK6q1aTwoeQnkt2dw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1
Oddly, the same isn't done with Pennsylvania, Connecticut or Massachusetts. 

[ipeters61]

Not a DOT, but for some reason the NYS Thruway Authority took it upon themselves to post "New Jersey State Line" signs at both places its jurisdiction touches the state:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1134181,-74.162377,3a,75y,205.64h,85.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBc0nGehS56w2wT5nuJRV-Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0664544,-74.0570977,3a,75y,196.85h,86.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skjLUWVK6q1aTwoeQnkt2dw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1
Oddly, the same isn't done with Connecticut or Massachusetts.

Not for an actual "state border," but for the instances where a road that is primarily in New York briefly cuts into another state:

On I-684 (NYSDOT), you get "Entering Greenwich Connecticut": https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0877427,-73.7176341,3a,75y,23.63h,91.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sX0-nLq0lIhOcWhaXH2g0MA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1

On I-86 (NYSDOT), you get "State Border" when it enters Pennsylvania: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.000188,-76.5539686,3a,75y,103.15h,83.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1CWfcsP3NgwZbDSZ_HCeDQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1

[vdeane]

Not a DOT, but for some reason the NYS Thruway Authority took it upon themselves to post "New Jersey State Line" signs at both places its jurisdiction touches the state:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1134181,-74.162377,3a,75y,205.64h,85.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBc0nGehS56w2wT5nuJRV-Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0664544,-74.0570977,3a,75y,196.85h,86.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skjLUWVK6q1aTwoeQnkt2dw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1
Oddly, the same isn't done with Pennsylvania, Connecticut or Massachusetts. 

Then there's this... NYSTA doesn't usually post county line signs (the only other instance I can think of off the top of my head is the Bronx/Westchester line on the mainline and I-95), and nowhere else can I think of municipalities being signed.

[kphoger]

"ilegal"

Maybe if you speak Spanish...

[US71]

Arkansas is notorious for not posting multiplexes (like US 71/US 62 along I-49) or posting "TO" along what should be multiplexed routes (such as US 412 TO AR 59).

They also spend a lot of money in the NW corner or central parts of the state, but ignore everything else.
 

[Zeffy]

One thing I've noticed is that for reasons I can't really comprehend, the city of Philadelphia has a weird obsession with expressing distances in 10ths on their freeway signs. Wouldn't be as bad if they also reduced the fractions when they could, but then we wouldn't have the 10ths I suppose. 

[Ian]

One thing I've noticed is that for reasons I can't really comprehend, the city of Philadelphia has a weird obsession with expressing distances in 10ths on their freeway signs. Wouldn't be as bad if they also reduced the fractions when they could, but then we wouldn't have the 10ths I suppose. 

Outside of Philadelphia, I've also seen distances posted in 8ths.

[MantyMadTown]

I've seen Appleton and Milwaukee in Wisconsin use decimals on their mileposts of their urban freeways. Appleton has signs in the median of the roadway on I-41 that post mile markers every 2/10ths of a mile, and Milwaukee does this for every 1/10th of a mile on I-43 and I-94 downtown. It has a blue sign that shows you the highway you're on, the mile number, and the fraction below it. Here's an example in Milwaukee. Does any other state do this?

[ilpt4u]

I've seen Appleton and Milwaukee in Wisconsin use decimals on their mileposts of their urban freeways. Appleton has signs in the median of the roadway on I-41 that post mile markers every 2/10ths of a mile, and Milwaukee does this for every 1/10th of a mile on I-43 and I-94 downtown. It has a blue sign that shows you the highway you're on, the mile number, and the fraction below it. Here's an example in Milwaukee. Does any other state do this?

InDOT does on Urban/Suburban Interstate segments, like I-80/94 in NW Indiana, I-65, 69, 70, 74, 465, 865 in/around Indy, I-64, 65, 265 across the Ohio from Louisville, I-69 in Evansville...they kinda do it on new I-69 in Bloomington, but it is inconsistent there

[MantyMadTown]

I've seen Appleton and Milwaukee in Wisconsin use decimals on their mileposts of their urban freeways. Appleton has signs in the median of the roadway on I-41 that post mile markers every 2/10ths of a mile, and Milwaukee does this for every 1/10th of a mile on I-43 and I-94 downtown. It has a blue sign that shows you the highway you're on, the mile number, and the fraction below it. Here's an example in Milwaukee. Does any other state do this?

InDOT does on Urban/Suburban Interstate segments, like I-80/94 in NW Indiana, I-65, 69, 70, 74, 465, 865 in/around Indy, I-64, 65, 265 across the Ohio from Louisville, I-69 in Evansville...they kinda do it on new I-69 in Bloomington, but it is inconsistent there

Ok so I guess it's not a weird quirk. I was just going off the fractions of a mile thing Zeffy posted. But those are two different things...

[DaBigE]

I've seen Appleton and Milwaukee in Wisconsin use decimals on their mileposts of their urban freeways. Appleton has signs in the median of the roadway on I-41 that post mile markers every 2/10ths of a mile, and Milwaukee does this for every 1/10th of a mile on I-43 and I-94 downtown. It has a blue sign that shows you the highway you're on, the mile number, and the fraction below it. Here's an example in Milwaukee. Does any other state do this?

InDOT does on Urban/Suburban Interstate segments, like I-80/94 in NW Indiana, I-65, 69, 70, 74, 465, 865 in/around Indy, I-64, 65, 265 across the Ohio from Louisville, I-69 in Evansville...they kinda do it on new I-69 in Bloomington, but it is inconsistent there

Ok so I guess it's not a weird quirk. I was just going off the fractions of a mile thing Zeffy posted. But those are two different things...

It's an MUTCD standard, see Section 2H.05 & 2H.06: Intermediate Reference Location and Enhanced Reference Location signs.

[MNHighwayMan]

I've seen Appleton and Milwaukee in Wisconsin use decimals on their mileposts of their urban freeways. Appleton has signs in the median of the roadway on I-41 that post mile markers every 2/10ths of a mile, and Milwaukee does this for every 1/10th of a mile on I-43 and I-94 downtown. It has a blue sign that shows you the highway you're on, the mile number, and the fraction below it. Here's an example in Milwaukee. Does any other state do this?

Not a quirk. Those are standard enhanced mile markers (sign D10-5 in the MUTCD) and lots of states use them now.

[ipeters61]

One thing I've noticed is that for reasons I can't really comprehend, the city of Philadelphia has a weird obsession with expressing distances in 10ths on their freeway signs. Wouldn't be as bad if they also reduced the fractions when they could, but then we wouldn't have the 10ths I suppose. 

I think the average person would have trouble comprehending 2/5 as opposed to 4/10.

[jeffandnicole]

One thing I've noticed is that for reasons I can't really comprehend, the city of Philadelphia has a weird obsession with expressing distances in 10ths on their freeway signs. Wouldn't be as bad if they also reduced the fractions when they could, but then we wouldn't have the 10ths I suppose. 

I think the average person would have trouble comprehending 2/5 as opposed to 4/10.

At least 10ths are shown on an odometer.

But yeah, saying 1/4 or 1/2 instead of 4/10 would just be the normal way to go.  People aren't going to notice the few hundred feet difference.

[DaBigE]

One thing I've noticed is that for reasons I can't really comprehend, the city of Philadelphia has a weird obsession with expressing distances in 10ths on their freeway signs. Wouldn't be as bad if they also reduced the fractions when they could, but then we wouldn't have the 10ths I suppose. 

I think the average person would have trouble comprehending 2/5 as opposed to 4/10.

At least 10ths are shown on an odometer.

Not as regularly as they used to be. My previous vehicle dropped the tenths as soon as I rolled over 100K. My current vehicle has never displayed tenths of a mile.

[PHLBOS]

One thing I've noticed is that for reasons I can't really comprehend, the city of Philadelphia has a weird obsession with expressing distances in 10ths on their freeway signs. Wouldn't be as bad if they also reduced the fractions when they could, but then we wouldn't have the 10ths I suppose. 

Outside of Philadelphia, I've also seen distances posted in 8ths.

PA isn't/wasn't the only state that does/did such.  My first EXIT 1/8 MILE sign siting (as a kid) was back in the early 70s along US 1 southbound in Danvers, MA approaching the MA 114 interchange.  Such was the predecessor BGS to this current EXIT 800 FEET BGS.

[ipeters61]

One thing I've noticed is that for reasons I can't really comprehend, the city of Philadelphia has a weird obsession with expressing distances in 10ths on their freeway signs. Wouldn't be as bad if they also reduced the fractions when they could, but then we wouldn't have the 10ths I suppose. 

Outside of Philadelphia, I've also seen distances posted in 8ths.

PA isn't/wasn't the only state that does/did such.  My first EXIT 1/8 MILE sign siting (as a kid) was back in the early 70s along US 1 southbound in Danvers, MA approaching the MA 114 interchange.  Such was the predecessor BGS to this current EXIT 800 FEET BGS.

Delaware has some oddball distances on DE-141 at Exit 5: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7170166,-75.6104965,3a,75y,317.2h,86.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sm9K_uAutnACVl2wXnxhVDw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

...and at Exit 4: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7203013,-75.6142695,3a,75y,147.97h,82.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIF0W4J6Y8Ao3oh3_G_4c5g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[kphoger]

My previous vehicle dropped the tenths as soon as I rolled over 100K. My current vehicle has never displayed tenths of a mile.

You don't have a trip odometer?

[jakeroot]

Having distances in 10ths would certainly be my preference. It's like a halfway point between the imperial system and the metric system.

Driving around in Canada, though you may not know how long a metre is, at least the distances are easy to calculate into other metric units. A sign saying "400 metres" is effectively saying "4/10 km". Although a sign saying "4/10 Mi" is not easily converted to feet or yards, at least its easier to comprehend than "2/5 Mi", which has to be converted to a base-ten fraction to be calculated with your trip odometer (which does display tenths in decimal form, unlike my standard odometer which has no tenths display at all). As long as trip computers have decimals and not fractions, I see no reason to reduce fractions on signs into a form that has to be expanded to be understood.

I would much prefer an approximation of "4/10 mi" instead of 2000 feet or something close, which means nothing to me at 60 mph.

[Scott5114]

Fifths are at least easy to convert to decimals, if you know ⅕ = 0.2.

Eighths are a thing of the devil. Trying to add multiples of 0.125 is a pain in the ass.

[Big John]

I wonder why horse racing times were given in fifth second increments.

[Ben114]

Fifths are at least easy to convert to decimals, if you know ⅕ = 0.2.

Eighths are a thing of the devil. Trying to add multiples of 0.125 is a pain in the ass.

just remember that 2/8 = 1/4 and you're good

[ilpt4u]

a sign saying "4/10 Mi" is not easily converted to feet or yards, at least its easier to comprehend than "2/5 Mi", which has to be converted to a base-ten fraction to be calculated with your trip odometer (which does display tenths in decimal form, unlike my standard odometer which has no tenths display at all). As long as trip computers have decimals and not fractions, I see no reason to reduce fractions on signs into a form that has to be expanded to be understood.

I would much prefer an approximation of "4/10 mi" instead of 2000 feet or something close, which means nothing to me at 60 mph.

1 mile = 5280 feet = ~1600 meters.

Rounding purposes, especially at highway speeds, 5000 feet is a close approximation for 1 mile. Every tenth of a mile is (28 feet more than) 500 feet

Signing distances in footage multiples of 500 is practically equivalent to tenths of a mile

.4 mi = 4/10 mi = ~2000 feet. All the same

Don’t know what states exactly, but driving around, especially construction zones, I tend to notice signs in 500 foot multiples for distance...500 feet, 1000 feet, etc. Not 1/10, 2/10s, etc

Now in meter multiples of 160 would be fun, but it is still functionally equivalent to tenths of a mile