Police are continuing to crack down on distracted drivers who talk on cellphones, text message their friends or engage in other behaviour that could cause them to take their eyes off the road.
But why aren't billboards a problem for the same reason? Don't companies pay a fortune to have their name and catchy photos and slogans emblazoned on a sign next to a road because they think it will attract a driver's attention?
Of course they do. And these billboards aren't always in places where people are stopped at a red light. They're on highways and bridge approaches, too. Even TransLink is looking at putting up large LED billboards on its properties.
TransLink needs the revenue, of course, and has only just started to look into the idea. Still, it seems a little hypocritical for a transportation authority to do anything that steers drivers' attention away from the road ahead.
What do you think? Should TransLink put up electronic billboards to raise money for transportation projects? Vote in our online poll.
