Billboards advertising to drivers

[HipHopOpotomus]

AIBU to think billboards are advertising to drivers and need to be rethought.

Where I live there are oodles of billboards along the main roads all aimed at drivers. They are becoming increasingly sophisticated and now most are at least animated (like giant TV screens) and will often feature full size real cars or other 3D elements - no longer a poster on a board. They can be very clever, but I find it disturbing that these very eye-catching and distracting advertisements are targeting DRIVERS.

When I've questioned this before it has been explained away that the billboards are aimed at PASSENGERS not drivers - this is utter nonsense. On London's A4, which I an far too familiar with, I would estimate well above 90% of the cars carry one person only.

This article states advertisers pay up to £60k for one of 4 x 10 second slots for 2 weeks to advertise to cars going over the Hammersmith flyover (on relatively small screens compared to the others further down the road). Clearly, at this price, they are not targeting passengers only.

The local council takes 50% of the revenue - great! But it's a bit like the govt making so much money from tobacco sales - double edged sword.

I'm not saying these billboards cause accidents by the way - I have no idea if they do or not. There are plenty of unavoidable distractions for drivers - blatant advertising should not be one of them.

So AIBU to be really annoyed by billboards targeting drivers???? Or should I just lighten up & let it go (bugbear of mine for years)?

I would be tempted to look at statistics and accident rates before getting annoyed to that extent tbh

It seems based on assumption

YABU to be annoyed when you don't actually know if they do any harm.

Apart from anything else, adveryising billboards are an eyesore. They started by camouflaging bomb sites after WWII and were more elementary then. Now, however, they are put up anywhere (with planning permission, I suppose) and just look so out of place.

So that's two reasons that they should be banned - like estate agent boards.

I think if they do harm or not - as in cause accidents - is irrelevant. It is illegal to read or watch TV while driving - and billboards are demanding that the driver reads/watches a screen. They are virtually impossible to ignore, and they are increasingly designed to demand more and more attention (where I am anyway).

I don't understand what is upsetting you. You say it is irelevant if they cause accidents, so what exactly are you annoyed at?
A driver pays attention to many views when driving, traffic, pedestrians, road signs, pot holes etc etc.... just not sure what your issue is. sorry

My issue is advertising companies deny they are targeting drivers with billboard advertising, as even they have to admit it would be wrong to do so. But clearly they are targeting drivers and they are getting more and more sophisticated about it.

or am I way off track here - do you think it is OK to advertise to drivers with moving images, 3D billboards etc?

A driver pays attention to many views when driving, traffic, pedestrians, road signs, pot holes all of which she does in order to drive safely.

Paying attention to billboards is not comparable

Are you talking about the ones in Kensington near the big tesco?

If so, I see your point, but I love having a look to see what they have done each time I drive to London. As a passenger of course!

I think people probably spend a lot of time sitting in traffic and not moving at these sites, especially the one mentioned above. I expect that's what they are really aiming at.

Yes - those and the ones on the Hammersmith flyover and that stretch of road I'm very familiar with. I kind of enjoy them as a pedestrian too - especially when they get cars/planes/giant 3D flowers etc involved. I still think they are wrong to target drivers though.

I live just up the road where there is a TV style one on the corner - rolling share prices, weather etc. very LOOK AT ME!!! I have no idea if billboards are involved but at this intersection there is at least one fatal accident involving a pedestrians a year - the barriers on the side on the road are constantly being taken out by a vehicle. It's a big problem and this stretch of road has big billboards all along it. I and my children cross here daily - there is no other choice. Its terrifying.

I think you definitely have a point when it comes to the moving billboards or ones that are like tv screens with rolling information.

There responsibility always has to be with the driver though, not that that will help after someone has been injured.

I like the 3d ones too much to complain though, and I feel quite disappointed if I drive on that stretch of road and the ads are crap!

even more confused now. Do they cause accidents or not? and is it still irrelevent? Why is a billboard not comparable to anything else within view of a driver? Why are moving billboards worse than anything else? a driver is surrounded by lots of moving things, people, cars, trains, planes, buses, birds, cows, alligators, UFOs, clouds, windmills, Pingu......

alligators are not specifically targeted to distract the drivers - at least the ones in London aren't . Billboards are - can't you see the difference in that?

are you sure about that? Have you ever seen an alligator in London NOT wearing his "Hello Driver" T-shirt?

Billboards are are targetted at anyone who sees them. If they run for more than a split second then I'd say they are targetted at passengers and pedestrians. There's a 'thing' that shows the time a driver can see/read something. When you see the ads in farmers fields by the motorway you will probably note that each sign has very few words and may be followed by a continuation half a mile along. It would be pointless trying to 'show' a driver something that takes more than a split second - therefor I'd say that these are targetted at non-drivers.
If a driver is indeed distracted by images of shiny cars or pretty flowers then he is going to be distracted by actual shiny cars and pretty flowers.
Pingu on the other hand should be kept well away from any major roadside.

OK IABU - I can live with that!