Guide & Services Road Sign (D10-1)
Mile Marker / Reference Location Marker Sign Meaning & Driving Rules
The Mile Marker / Reference Post (MUTCD D10-1) provides an exact geographic location along a highway measured in miles from the state border or route origin.
Required Driver Action & Right-of-Way Protocol
Note your nearest mile marker during highway travel to report exact breakdown locations to emergency dispatch.
Detailed Overview & Purpose
Mile Markers are green vertical signs installed every mile along state and interstate highways. Numbering starts at '0' at the south or west state border and increases moving north or east. In an accident or emergency, telling 911 dispatch your exact mile marker allows first responders to reach you immediately.
Key Standard & Origin: Mile markers reset to 0 at every state border line.
Where You'll Find This Sign
Installed every 1 mile (and often every 0.1 or 0.2 miles) along highway shoulders and center medians.
Common Driver Mistakes to Avoid
Failing to check the nearest milepost number before calling 911 for roadside assistance.
How This Sign Appears on the DMV Knowledge & Road Test
Top DMV question: how do you report your exact location to 911 on a highway? (Nearest mile marker).
Legal Penalties and Moving Violations
None; reference marker.
Sign Variations & Related Types
Intermediate Mile Marker (D10-2)
Displays tenth-of-a-mile digits for precision emergency location tracking.
When you encounter the official Mile Marker / Reference Location Marker (D10-1) on a roadway, what is your legal duty?
Prepare for Your State Permit Exam
Take full 2026 practice tests covering mandatory road signs, traffic laws, and state-specific driving rules.
