[1] The modern traffic signs in Italy were first designed by Michele Arcangelo Iocca in 1959.
A condensed version, called Alfabeto Stretto, is also used for long names that wouldn't fit.
The font is officially regulated by the 1992 Codice della Strada, article 39 section 125.
[5] It defines both Alfabeto Normale and Alfabeto Stretto for uppercase letters, lowercase letters and digits, "positive" (dark on light background) and "negative" (light on dark background).
These are some examples of the Italian sign "Passo carrabile" (No parking in front of vehicular access to the side properties) in the bilingual variants: