Q. Dear Honk: California seems to be the only state in the union that doesn’t use the green mile markers along its freeways and state highways. They refer to the distance from the state line or from the beginning of the highway. California does use those figures, but on freeway signs for off-ramps. Here, there are white mile markers that are less useful. They appear to be the same size as the green ones, referencing the distance from the county line and contain so much info that they can be difficult to even read.

– Ernie Myers, San Clemente

A. Ernie, your depth of roadway knowledge is deeper than Honk’s – ah, heck, that is getting a bit carried away.

But he had never noticed those white markers put up for counties (Honk had trouble finding them in some spots over the weekend, even after he knew they were supposedly out there).

Lindsey Hart, a Caltrans spokeswoman, said the white county markers, around since the 1940s, are to help maintenance workers and first-responders zero in on particular spots along freeways and state highways. Besides including the mileage from the county line, they hold other info such as the highway number and letters referencing the county.

Honk agrees with Ernie – the green mile markers are superior – they stand out much more and are easy to read because they are not cluttered with unnecessary data like the white ones.

Honk isn’t sure how useful they really are, but he does enjoy killing time while crossing an Arizona desert, watching the numbers on the mile markers grow or shrink, depending on his destination.

Years ago, Uncle Sam persuaded California to start using the same numbering system on its overhead signs, telling us what exit is just up ahead.

The state may go with green mile markers … eventually, Hart said.

But statewide it would take 30,400 such green markers to be manufactured and jammed into the ground, the revamping of an internal Caltrans database now tied to the county markers, and other changes. Putting in the signs alone would cost an estimated $5 million.

So Honk figures he will be taking the big sleep, under a different type of maker, long before those green signs spring up in California.

Q. If you’re driving in the carpool lane and a California Highway Patrol car is behind you with flashing lights, should you cross the double white lines to pull over, or should you wait until the double white lines end, and then pull over?

– William Micheil, Dana Point

A. Safely slide right, even if over the double white or yellow lines, said Duane Graham, a CHP officer and spokesman based at the Westminster office.

The cop just might want you out of the way because he is on a call and needs to scoot on down the line.

If the officer stays behind you, well, you are getting pulled over. Keep sliding right until you can find a safe spot to park.

Oftentimes, the officer will get on the squad car’s public-address system to help direct you.

To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. He can be seen online at ocregister.com/tag/honk.