billboards on wheels
By lauriefnp
@lauriefnp (5111)
United States
March 3, 2007 5:02pm CST
Has anyone seen the trucks that have advertisements that change every few minutes on the sides and the back of the truck? I don't know what the trucks are used for other than to display ads, as the trucks are really quite small. What I do know is that they are extremely dangerous and should be illegal! I saw one this afternoon when I was coming home and it's just human nature for everyone to be looking at the advertisements rolling and changing rather than concentrating on driving. I almost got into an accident because I was trying to "read" the new ad as the truck pulled away. This seems to be much more dangerous than using a cell phone, so why isn't this illegal?
13 people like this
15 responses
@cyntrow (8523)
• United States
4 Mar 07
Because objects that make money for big business are never made illegal. I've always wondered why bumper stickers are allowed. I find myself getting so close to the car in front of me so I can read the sticker, if they had to slam on their breaks, I would most assuredly hit them.
2 people like this
@lauriefnp (5111)
• United States
5 Mar 07
Very true. Anything that makes money for big business will eventually mean more tax revenue for the government, so they won't make it illegal (I know that I sound cynical, but I believe that this is the way it works).
Bumper stickers are dangerous, as are some of window decals and decorations that people are allowed to drive around with. But I'll bet those are outlawed before these rolling billboards are.
1 person likes this
@cyntrow (8523)
• United States
8 Mar 07
I agree. I am a product of anti capitalism upbringing, but it still rings true. I don't necessarily agree with all of my parental hippie anti establishment teachings, but the rich get richer and the politicians are in their back pockets is one that I can't shake.
@caramello (4377)
• Australia
4 Mar 07
They are a bit of a trap when you try to read them and the ones we have here are placed in areas where the traffic is quite heavy and it is amazing how many people slow down to try and read them and almost collide with another vehicle.
The ones I find annoying are those that say times and dates of roadworks that are going to begin on the road you travel on and you almost have to get down to a crawl to read it all as it flashes through what you are "meant" to be reading!
@lauriefnp (5111)
• United States
5 Mar 07
Road signs are meant to be clear and easy to read. That's why we have the traditional green signs with bold lettering. Simple and to the point. Neon instructions with road work updates are harder to read, and people will naturally slow down to read the sign and be totally unaware of the road for a few seconds, which could be long enough to cause a serious accident.
1 person likes this
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
4 Mar 07
No I have never seen billboards on wheels, but it sounds great but I understand what you are saying as people that are driving would be reading the signs and not watching what they were doing, which would be very dangerous. I do not know why this is illegal but I don't think it is the same as people on their cell phones.
1 person likes this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
4 Mar 07
Oh my. I haven't seen one of those yet. Yes, that seems much more dangerous than using a cell phone. At leaast if one uses a cell phone there is no reason to turn their face from watching where they are driving! That is really not a very smart thing to invent and allow on the road as it is a real distraction! Geeze. Another thing, we are asked to conserve gas, to carpool and other things to decrease our dependence on foreign oil. How is this not a waste of gas?!
2 people like this
@Radicalpatriot (665)
• United States
4 Mar 07
You have a good point on this one. My town has city buses that are painted to appear as one gigantic moving advert and, yes, they are dangerous because drivers can be distracted. It appears the Madison Avenue has no concept of unintended consequences.
@lauriefnp (5111)
• United States
5 Mar 07
You're right, the busses were the first to do this rolling billboard thing. Now it's been taken one dangerous step further and drivers are so intrigued waiting for the signs to roll over and change that their eyes are off of the road that much longer.
1 person likes this
@devinenisuresh (3)
• India
4 Mar 07
definitely. this is dangerous to carry an add on a truck or some vehicle.so, the licence of that particular vehical or particular person should be cancelled and throw him off to the prison or heavily fined.
1 person likes this
@lenywp (1963)
• Australia
4 Mar 07
Yes, it is quite dangerous. The ones in Australia don't change, but do still catch drivers' eyes. I think that the trucks may be delivering stock to shops but who knows.. I haven't seen one for a quite a long time, so they might already be gone (in Australia).
@josephperera (2906)
• Sri Lanka
28 Apr 07
Billboards on wheels was a tradition in Sri Lanka even before the motor car was invented. But things are different now and they are more colourful and attractive, enough to distract a motorists. But these are not the only things that distracts motorists. There are plenty of large billboards by the road which are equally eye catching.
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
2 May 07
They have one of those signs on the interstate coming home from Pittsburgh in I-79 that is like a television. The picture actually glows like a tv and moves, etc. The kicker is, it strikes your vision just as you are not only pulling around a curve but merging into other traffic. I'm always amazed at how the heck they don't have a zillion accidents there! When it first came up I nearly rear ended some guy because he actually slowed down to look at it!!!! I can't say much because I was looking too and didn't see his brake light until it was darn close!
I agree these things are definitely distractions and shouldn't be allowed.
@coolloupe (40)
• United States
4 Mar 07
I have heard about these but never actually seen one in person on the road. I see what you are saying as they can be hazards and have no other use then advertiving. I also believe they should consider to make them illegal or put some types of restrictions on them.
@gauravjm (78)
• India
4 Mar 07
very well thought my friend good i feel these things should be brought in notice of the authority and public should join hands and protest and c to that it does not continue for sake of money they are going to take many people's lives so i feel better late then never so atleast now there should be some change coming up with the law on that
@shakemiester (38)
• United States
4 Mar 07
I don't really think that cell phones should be illegal in most states. What if someone has an accident on the side of the road and they don't have a cell phone. What, are the cops going to arrest the person who called to help the other person out, I don't understand. As far as the rolling bilboards go though, I would have to agree, but how else are the going to get more customers. The tv and magazines are already crawling with their articles and commercials.
@junksta14 (207)
• United States
25 Jun 07
I have....they are ...very distracting and also i was doing the same exact thing...i hope it wasnt me haha...i hate those things
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
4 Mar 07
My guess is hat it will be. Sounds very dangerous to me. We do not have this over hre but if we did I am sure thatit would cause alot of accidents and eventually become illegal!
