
Clearview font txdot change series#
Therefore, because there were no statistically significant increases in recognition or legibility distances for any of the Clearview fonts tested, and because the results of the nighttime recognition analysis showed a decrease in recognition distance when the FHWA font was replaced with the Clearview f ont, the researchers recommend that TxDOT continue using the FHWA font series for negative contrast signs. Looking at a sign in Clearview after reading one in Highway Gothic is like putting on a new pair of reading glasses: there’s a sudden lightness, a noticeable crispness to. The recognition distance provided by traffic signs can be considered one of the most critical measures of effectiveness when assessing sign performance. What I saw was Clearview, the typeface that is poised to replace Highway Gothic, the standard that has been used on signs across the country for more than a half-century. In this instance, the straight replacement of Clearview did not achieve similar recognition distances as the FHWA font series until the stroke width was increased to the next weight. The results of this research project show that the Clearview font provides the same performance as the current FHWA font series for negative contrast traffic signs with the exception of the nighttime recognition. The field study compared the standard font to three treatments of the Clearview font. The field study was a dynamic recognition and legibility test using full-sized retroreflective signs during the day and at night. The laptop survey used static, in-context sign images to compare sign fonts. The researchers performed a laptop-based presentation survey and a closed-course field study. This research project evaluated the negative contrast Clearview font in black letters on fluorescent yellow, fluorescent orange, and white backgrounds. Its the font thats used on signage across the state, known as Clearview. Prior to this research project, there were no studies documenting the performance of the Clearview font for negative contrast signs such as those found in the regulatory and warning sign series. For more than 10 years, its been a familiar sight on Texas road signs - even if youve never taken the time to notice it.


The Clearview font has been developed with two sets of fonts- one for positive contrast signs and another for negative contrast signs. These results have helped support the adoption of the Clearview font into the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Standard Highway Signs book. Additional studies have shown that Clearview outperforms other versions of Highway Gothic fonts on other, smaller types of guide signs. Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) sponsored research has shown that the Clearview font provides longer legibility distances than the Highway Gothic font Series E (Modified) when used on freeway guide signs with positive contrast of white letters on a dark background.
