For drivers traveling at 45 mph, that legibility enhancement could translate into an additional 80 feet of reading distance, or 1.2 seconds of additional reading time.
CLEARVIEW FONT HIGHWAY SERIES
In two PTI studies intended for conventional road guide signs, use of an early version of Clearview, called "Clearview-Bold," is reported to have improved nighttime sign reading distance by up to 16 percent when compared with Standard Alphabet Series E(modified). The initial research on Clearview was conducted at PTI. The legibility of positive-contrast Clearview legends for guide signs was researched by the Pennsylvania Transportation Institute (PTI) and the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). This research development effort resulted in final design of Clearview font letters in 2003. Specifically, the first studies on Clearview stated that the intent was to replace the Standard Alphabets rather than also explore improvements thereto. The stated goal of the Clearview font was to increase legibility and reduce halation of highway sign legends in comparison to that of the FHWA Standard Alphabets (to which the developers refer as "Highway Gothic font," even though "Gothic" historically has referred to letter forms of very intricate design, such as those used on newspaper mastheads, by contrast with the simple, non-stylized letter forms of the Standard Alphabets). The Clearview font was developed through research starting in the late-1990s. Since the issuance of the interim approval, various organizations have continued to research highway sign fonts. The early research led to FHWA's issuance of the Interim Approval for the use of Clearview Font for positive contrast legends on guide signs. Research related to alternative fonts for signs has been ongoing since the 1990s. The FHWA is responsible for conducting a comprehensive review of the research on Clearview font and reporting its findings to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 90 days of enactment of the omnibus bill, the association explains.Table of Contents Report on Highway Guide Sign Fonts 3.0 Research on Clearview The association notes that a Michigan Department of Transportation study found Clearview font reduced the number of freeway crashes by 26 percent.Īnd a recent study conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Texas A&M University Transportation Institute found that Clearview font performed better than Highway Gothic across all tests, the association says. Some studies support use of the Clearview font Though there have been questions about the font’s readability, especially for “negative contrast” signs with dark lettering on light backgrounds, the font has supporters, too. Transportation agencies will now be able to submit written requests to the administration to use the font on highway traffic signs.
CLEARVIEW FONT HIGHWAY MANUAL
The interim use has been authorized under the provisions of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD). On March 28, 2018, the FHWA issued a memorandum to officially comply with the order to temporarily reinstate the font, a decision that affects at least 28 states that had begun using it on their roadway signs. A technical brief released by the FHWA explains the termination of the font. Then, in 2016, the agency prohibited Clearview Font without public comment. In April 2014, FHWA indicated it expected to rescind its interim approval for states to use Clearview in the future. The Federal Highway Administration gave approval for states to use Clearview Font in 2004. That’s, thought to cut reading and comprehension time for drivers in motion. It expands the negative space in letters to exaggerate their shape. The Clearview Font was developed in the early 1990s to improve the legibility of road signs without increasing font size. The sans-serif font is said to be easier to read at long distances and in darkness than the traditional Highway Gothic font, which was created more than 70 years ago. Now, for Fiscal Year 2018, the bill directs the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to issue interim approval for the Clearview font.
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