An article on today's California page says the state is considering selling ad space on the freeway emergency signs. I think that is a terrible idea, on so many levels. (Here's a link to the full article on the Los Angeles Times website.)
State officials figure the cash-strapped highway fund could make millions by allowing ads when the signs are not in use for emergencies.
Why is this a bad idea? Let me count the ways.
- Safety: Takes drivers' eyes off the road.
- Visual blight: Aren't regular billboards bad enough?
- Diminishes impact of emergency messages: Right now, if there is something on those signs, drivers know that it's an important message, either about traffic conditions or an Amber alert. If ads are showing all the time, won't the signs' messages blur into landscape?
- Sells out state integrity: Is there anything left that we aren't willing to put a price tag on?
"If we need to do this to get money, maybe the state should go ahead and open a brothel," said Ted Wu of the Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight. He said the next logical step would be to sell ad space on the state Capitol.
Coincidentally (or NOT!), the company that came up with the idea is a major contributor to state politicians.
Don't do it.
(Bee file photo)
DON'T DO IT. STUPID IDEA. Motorist will stop reading them and their whole purpose will be lost. Amber Alerts alone are reason enough. My next email is to Will Kempton of Caltrans followed by letters to our government reps. We can't just blog on this one folks.
Absolutely crazy. The signs are for emergency purposes only and should remain that way. It is distracting and that is what tv and radio is for.
I agree with Kim, this is one we have to act on. Is this what we are coming to? This is just more proof of how far society has sunk because of money. Let's get on the phone and take care of this!
Same vote from me...absolutely not. I agree that drivers will stop noticing when something is on there, because they will soon be conditioned to think it's an ad. As it is now, we take notice when there's something there, and that's huge if someone has seen the vehicle described in an abduction.
I appreciate wanting to increase revenues, and if I think of any ideas I'll holler, but perhaps the lawmakers will be for giving up a few things like free gas, free cars, free health care, etc. so we can bring revenue in that way. All of those, who pay for these things for them, who agree...say aye!
I have an idea... why don't we start using ambulances as taxis when they're not being used to transport patients! Or, we could rent vacant hospital beds out to travelers. And the Emergency Broadcast System? Well, that's hardly ever used... we could sell ad space there so a commercial would surely be watched because of that ear catching high pitched noise!
Government schmucks.
We just got cell phones and texting 'outlawed', and the state comes up with another way to distract drivers! Keep brainstorming...
I would rather have them sell space on these boards than raise my taxes. And to say that it would diminish the impact of emergency messages assumes people are idiots. I'm sure most people can tell the difference between and ad and an alert in a split second. And they don't always display Amber Alerts or traffic messages. Sometimes they say "click it or ticket," or "report drunk drivers." I seriously doubt those messages dilute the emergency alerts.
Yeah, I say sell ad space on the capitol as well. Let our public-owned assets make money for us.
A $700 billion or more bailout of the financial institutions that put our economy in the toilet, with no oversight, and this is the worst idea you've heard all week?
The bailout was being discussed last week, and I first heard the $700 billion figure Saturday, so to me, that counts as last week's worst idea.
Have you got those letters written people? Seriously... safety, children's safety especially, is far too important.
Well, you got me there Lisa. Let me add my two pennies for McCain's "campaign suspension" as being the worst idea heard all week.
Everyone who observes signs is enroute from from one location to another. This sort of innovative idea is I believe a dry run for other events to come. Combine a flexible message with a telephone, both legal and illegal, alerted folks who detect an individual of interest are able to call 911 without being fined. The total mix is a very cheap form of human intelligence, each person becomes a mobile camera with the will to do the right thing. Welcome to the 21st century.
Using this space for advertising seems just a little too much like feeding off the bodies of desperate children who may need our help at any second and who will be ignored because many of us think "it's only an ad." If money is that important to the state, have the members of state congress and senators wear advertising slogans or posters on their backs to and from work....