I’m in California this week on business, and have noticed some things about the big green highway signs as I have been driving around the LA-Long Beach-Santa Ana-Riverside area on various highways.

1) Many of the green overhead signs are horribly faded, to the point where the letters and symbols are no longer reflective. Contrast on some of them is practically non-existent.

2) It seems that when there is a change or correction, the highway department might mount a small (2 foot by 2 foot) bright green patch on the sign rather than redoing the sign. Of course, the correction is reflective and easy to read, but the rest of the sign is still illegible.

3) Exit numbers appear to be an afterthought, and they are inconsistent. Every other state numbered their exits from time immemorial. California, it seems, just tacks on exit numbers when they feel like it – not every exit has an exit number, and they are inconsistently noted on the approaches. They are way out of synch with what GPSs are saying.

4) Yellow “this lane must exit’ signs don’t point to the actual lanes – they sort of point to the general direction but aren’t really accurate (at least around Pomona).

5) The dashed white lane lines are almost totally worn out or bleached out. (Yes, they have those metallic reflectors in most places, but not everywhere)

Any other state in the union would be embarrassed to have such lousy signage on highways. (well, except Massachusetts).

Why does California let theirs be so substandard and awful?