4) Follow-up research of older driver initiative
Michigan DOT attributes upgrades of road signs using Clearview to improved overall safety of roads.




Michigan DOT began a major older driver initiative in 2004 on 93 percent of their freeways and 43 percent of their conventional roads. Statewide, this included upgraded guide signs with Clearview fonts (white on green) for guide sign legends and Fluorescent Yellow background (black on yellow) for all exit lane and single lane drop panels, combining these two safety improvements at exit points or other bifurcations. In a multi-year evaluation study that was issued in 2015, a team of researchers at Western Michigan University compared historic accident data for the years before guide signs were upgraded and annual accident data following the upgrade. This study included 156 road segments (79 freeway, and 43 non-freeway in rural areas and 34 non-freeway in urban areas) covering road configurations of all types. The findings were significant and showed that Clearview and Clearview with Fluorescent Yellow exit lane panels resulted in fewer fatalities (-14%), less severe crashes (-30%), and a reduced number of crashes overall (-25%). This reduction in the number of on-road incidents lowers road management costs, such as road repair and emergency services base on a valuation that is assessed by type of accident.

The Michigan state highway engineer stated that use of Clearview pays for itself in ongoing public costs and the safety provided to motorists.
V. Kwigizile, Jun-Seok Oh, R, Van Houten, D. Prieto, R. Boateng, L. Rodriguez, A. Ceifetz, J. Yassin, J. Bagdade, P. Andridge. Evaluation of Michigan’s Engineering Improvements for Older Drivers. Western Michigan Univ. Michigan Department of Transportation. RC 1636, 2015.