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Text to be Read at 60 MPH
In my work designing highway typefaces, it has been my experience that a text typeface makes a terrible highway typeface, but a highway typeface makes a pretty good text typeface.
Some readers might remember Clearview, a design Montalbano has honed and tweaked for 8 years. The effort has paid off. Today on Typo-L he mentioned that “last month, the U.S Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved ClearviewHwy for use on the Federal highway system.” Versions of the font are already in use by transportation systems in parts of Pennsylvania, Toronto (I missed it at Typecon), and Dallas. Montalbano is developing a website to show off Clearview. We’ll alert you once it’s up.
See also: Official Interim Approval
Posted by Typographica | August 02, 2002 | LINK|
Comments
Wow. Congrats to him. Just one thing: I never drive 60 - will I have a problem? hhp Hrant | Aug 2, 2002 12:02 PM
Here in Austin, Clearview has been in use on new highway signs for about a year. If it were up to me, though, I would stick with good old FHWA Series E Modified – I find it to be easier to read from long distances (perhaps it’s due to its weight). Brandon Schoech | Aug 2, 2002 01:03 PM
60 MPH? pfff, there seems to be a 120kmh here http://www.typotheque.com/articles/euroface.html written by some German guy. i wonder which one of those fonts is more serious attempt. jason | Aug 2, 2002 02:30 PM
For shorter street names in Tucson, arizona, they are starting to use a wide version of a heavy Helvetica, it's so disturbing, I try to avoid those streets like "Pima" and "Elm" now.... matthew | Aug 2, 2002 03:14 PM
I wasn't aware it was being used in Austin for the last year. Brandon brings up a good point in regard to its weight. Texas DOT has been using a very early version of the font which while having tested to be more legible than e-modified, is a touch too light. That is one of the reasons this latest version is being developed, which will have the same stroke width to height ratio as e-mod. James Montalbano | Aug 2, 2002 03:48 PM
Mr Montalbano: That’s good to hear – if Clearview is used with the proportions of FHWA Series E Modified rather than what I’ve been seeing, new highway signs can be pleasant to look as well as legible. Brandon Schoech | Aug 2, 2002 03:53 PM
Two things, first, is there a specimen of the Clearview face we can see online? Also James, while a new highway signage typeface is a significant feat, is there anything that can be done about directional arrows on highway signs? I have always felt a dimensional arrow with swooping tails would offer higher readability and comprehension than the current straight arrow that confuses the actual direction to the highway entrance/exit. Stuart :D Stuart | Aug 2, 2002 04:14 PM
Huh, the possible lightness of Clearview (at least in the one instance I'd seen) actually came up on Typo-L just over a year ago. hhp Hrant | Aug 2, 2002 04:55 PM
So James, I guess my hunch was right, eh? :-) Anyway, in working with the DOT (successfully!) could you tell us how they determine what weight is good? Or what glyphs are more legible? hhp Hrant | Aug 2, 2002 05:04 PM
text to be read at high speed?! check also this. dirk uhlenbrock | Aug 3, 2002 12:32 AM |
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