In my country, we wouldn’t say it like that @SophatCHY, but we’ve always had distance markers. Many years ago, they were in miles, but for the last 50 years in kilometres. They are not places, so I wouldn’t attempt to add them to the map. They just represent various distances from a central point in a given direction. With modern technology and navigation apps, they have become less relevant to road users here.
Yes, I understand and agree they are not really “places” to add on Google Maps.
This is only an idea and observation from my experience traveling a lot in Cambodia, especially in countryside areas where official addresses, ZIP codes, or structured location systems are still not commonly used by local people.
In many small villages, people usually explain locations by:
village names
nearby pagodas or markets
or kilometer markers along national roads
So, for some communities, these road markers remain useful as real-world reference points.
I know modern navigation already uses pins, Plus Codes, and GPS, but sometimes technology should also adapt to local behaviors and the ways people naturally describe locations in their daily lives.
This is not a request to add them as places on the map; just an idea for discussion from a Cambodian perspective and from my travel experience.
I totally agree with you. Kilometer markers can be a lifesaver when you need to describe a location without any other landmarks for reference. I know that in desert areas, they are frequently used to give directions. As an example, in the Algerian desert, people often say: “Coming from City A toward City B, at PK50, turn right onto the dirt track and go for 3 kilometers.” (Note: PK stands for Point Kilométrique in French).
Edit : check this ( Google Maps ) to illustrate my example, in a so remote area with no cell coverage
Yes, exactly. Some countries have already solved this problem with ZIP codes, postcodes, structured addresses, and emergency location systems.
But in some countries like Cambodia, many local people still describe locations differently, especially in countryside areas where formal address systems are not commonly used in daily life.
That’s why I wanted to raise this discussion.
Not because kilometer markers should replace modern navigation, but because local behavior and local understanding are also important when designing mapping and navigation systems.
Sometimes technology works best when it adapts to how people naturally communicate locations.
I think this topic is also about localization, digital education, and understanding how different communities use maps in real life.
This is an excellent suggestion! As someone who works in the road construction sector, I completely agree that having kilometer markers integrated into Google Maps would be incredibly useful.
For anyone driving on the road, these markers are a lifesaver. They allow you to instantly know your exact location and gauge how much further you need to go to reach your destination—all without having to constantly look down at a screen or phone. This is especially crucial here in Cambodia, where motorbikes are our main means of transportation, making phone-gazing while riding highly inconvenient and unsafe.
To add a small tip for everyone here on how to read these physical markers on the road:
If it’s on your left-hand side: It means you are moving from the starting point to the end point, so the numbers are increasing (0 → 1 → 2). For example, if you are driving out from Phnom Penh to another province, you will see the markers on your left.
If it’s on your right-hand side: It means the numbers are decreasing (100 → 99 → 98), which indicates you are driving from the end point back toward the starting point.
Thank you for bringing up this small but highly impactful detail. I really hope the Google Maps team considers adding it!
Thanks for the additional notes @XPinG and @Meta. This brings the suggestion by @SophatCHY into perspective. I have at times noted that Connect is a real source of education, and very helpful to see a snapshot of the life, culture, and practices of different parts of the world.
