Design of Sign Letter Sizes

There has been a growing interest and attention among traffic engineers, and others, in improving the design of highway warning and destination signs. The effectiveness and usefulness of the highway are increased by proper signs just as the proper use of a mechanical article of merchandise is insured by clear and adequate instructions on the box. There are two characteristics of properly designed highway signs: (1) They must be readable and they must give the motorist sufficient warning to permit making the maneuver comfortably; and (2) they must be designed so as to gain the motorist's attention. To gain attention (characteristic (2)) is a complex problem which deserves separate treatment and is beyond the scope of this paper. Since certain standard color combinations are now agreed upon by state and national highway agencies, these standard color combinations will be assumed in the paper.