Transport typeface

From Wikipedia’s “Did you know…” today — the aptly named Transport typeface:

Transport is a sans-serif typeface used for road signage, primarily in the United Kingdom. The typeface was created during the 1950s and 60s by Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert. Before the introduction of the typeface, British road signs were often produced with serif typefaces, which varied depending on the body which commissioned them, and could be difficult to read at speed. Until the late 50s, most roads in the United Kingdom were slow B roads, and therefore this approach was acceptable.

However, with the construction of the motorway network, a clearer typeface was required. In 1957 graphic designers Kinneir and Calvert were appointed by the British government to produce a coherent and clear signage system for use primarily on the motorways. The typeface had to appear modern, but while other European states used sharp modernist sans-serif typefaces, Kinneir and Calvert believed these to be too harsh, and instead developed a more rounded, curvilinear typeface.

See also Clearview