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Oct 06, 2008 -- Clark applauds selling ads on electronic traffic signs
Clark recently read about a cool way for government to stretch its dollars in The Los Angeles Times. California has a proposal to sell ads on their electronic traffic signs when they're not in use -- which is the bulk of the day. The money would be used for highway maintenance, bridge building, etc.
Why aren't we doing this all over the country, Clark wonders? We've spent a fortune in tax dollars on these signs, but they're not needed all the hours of the day. Of course, there's always the argument that government would then be competing with private enterprise and its billboards. Even so, Clark believes it makes sense.
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What others are saying
Bad idea
This will quickly make the signs invisible, as drivers will learn to tune them out as a source of just more ad noise.
Signs on interstates NOT good idea in CA
In California we drive busy freeways, sometimes with 4 or 5 lanes each direction. We know to read those signs when something is on them because it is either an Amber Alert or warning about danger up ahead. The idea of having the signs full of ads that we would learn to ignore because they would always have something on them, would totally compromise the purpose of the sign,and be a danger to drivers. Not a good idea on busy roads. This is totally different from signs on buses. Your safety or a missing child's is not compromised if you do not read a bus sign.
Signs on the interstates
Have you ever noticed that advertising on the interstate highway system is very far away from the road? It is out of the right of way (state owns the ROW). If this new gimmick wotks, look for sign space to be rented by the state inside the ROW. All interstates will look like Las Vegas!!
