Highway signs are notoriously difficult to read at night because of the way they reflect light from car headlights. To fix the problem, the U.S. highway administration is changing the fonts to make them more legible.

The NY Times has a fascinating overview of the history of this idea and what it took to make it reality.  It’s a must read for graphic designers and especially typography buffs.

Here’s a comparison of the old signs next to the new signs, which use the new Clearview Type System that was approved for use on guide signs in 2004. Since then, more than 20 states have requested authority to use it.

Link: The Road to Clarity and the accompanying slide show

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