According to a few simple reports, digital billboards are not causing any more accidents than the ones that are NOT digital. After some speculation brought attention to the new digital billboards in Pennslyvania, a study was done by the Virginia Tech University in 2007 that showed digital billboards as “safety neutral”.
According to that study, it appeared that almost all drivers going past the digital billboard on a regular basis looked in the direction for less than one second. I hardly believe they can say that is wouldn’t cause any accidents, especially when it takes less than one second for an accident to occur.
Over the last 20 years, studies showed no link between digital billboards and accidents. That was a study with information from three different states. The billboard industry expects to see a rise in the number of digital billboards by the hundreds per year. Supporters for the billboards are saying that digital billboards belong along side America’s roadways. With the benefit that emergency messages can be displayed instantly, digital billboards would be a plus in high traffic areas, even if they only see the message for a second.
I like the fact that digital billboards are allowed. Thay way a company can take on many more messages for each billboard to rotate and it gives the advertiser a better price. They are also “more green” because there is less wasted paper and LED’s are energy efficent.
