Road safety expert Muhammad Shahid has appealed to the authorities to take notice against the increased use of digital billboards throughout the country along roadsides and urged policy makers to enforce stronger regulations in this regard, in the interest of the road users.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Founder Road Safety First Muhammad Shahid said that many developed countries including major US cities, have banned the digital advertising billboards, pointing out that unlike mobile phones, the drivers cannot switch them off. He also appreciated the CDA and Islamabad Police for launching an operation against illegally installed billboards in the city.
“The use of seductive models to advertise glamorous products by implementing eye-grabbing huge electronic billboards with bright colours and constantly changing images poses a serious safety hazard because it attracts the concentration of the drivers leading to a definite risk of a road accident,” said Mohammad Shahid.
Digital billboards normally change images every four to 10 seconds, flashing multiple messages from one or more advertisers on the same sign, the Road Safety Expert said, claiming that majority of motorists were being affected by these roadside distractions when driving.