With sign legibility and driver safety in mind, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the use of a new typeface known as “Clearview”, agreeing that it was easier to read from a distance than its predecessor, Highway Gothic. Highway Gothic Photo Credit: Donald Meeker Clearview Photo credit: Donald Meeker The Highway Gothic vs. Younger drivers with contrast sensitive eyesight are also at risk of this blinding effect. Halation can be aggravating and dangerous, especially for the approximately 30 million licensed drivers over 70 years old in the United States (Federal Highway Administration, 2020). When headlights bounce off the reflective material on an exit sign, for example, letters and numbers become a fuzzy glow, creating a blinding effect on motorists. In graphic design and photography, there is a term called “halation” which means a blurred or “halo” effect around the edges of a letter, number or photographic image. Or blinded by the Highway Gothic font, literally. Ever wonder why some people are late to or give up going to where they need to go, especially at night? One reason might be that they were blinded by the light, figuratively. That is, until we get to our destination, if we get to our destination. One of the few comforts of lockdown life is that we can still hit the freeways in the privacy of our vehicles, mask-less and Covid free.
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