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Billboards Too Bright?

Reported by: Janna Clark
Email: jclark@fox23.com
Last Update: 6/16 10:37 pm
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You may have seen them driving around town.

They're flashy billboards, which are actually LED screens, and some viewers emailed us, concerned they could be a big distraction drivers.

FOX23's Janna Clark has the story.

The new LED signs are much brighter than your normal billboard, especially when it's dark.

That's why some Tulsans are concerned.

No doubt they're different - flashier and brighter.

LED signs definitely catch your attention, which is what ads are supposed to do. But could that be a bad thing?

Tom Rorabaugh thinks so.

"It just jumped out at me," Rorabaugh said.

Tom knows outdoor lighting. It's what he does for a living.

And he has serious concerns about the bright signs on the side of the highway.

"The color, the brightness, the speed, the transitions, it's almost like a large TV screen, Rorabaugh said.

He says during the day he doesn't see much of a problem. But at night - that's a different story.

"The contrast is pretty intense. I think what most concerns me is the brightness of the transitions - they're so quick," Rorabaugh said.

Police Officer Craig Murray has his own concerns.

"It's to the driver's disadvantage because they do have a tendency to look 'oh that's bright' or it catches their eye more," Murray said.

Police say it's not necessarily dangerous to glance away for a second, but it can be if you look away too long, or if it's just bad timing.

"Anything could happen - a car could stop in front of you or a car could change lanes in front of you," Murray said.

Murray says as far as he knows, the signs haven't caused any accidents.

"Not that anybody's wanted to admit to," Murray said.

But he and Tom both say it could happen.

"I hope not, but it's a real possibility," Rorabaugh said.

If you do get in a wreck or cause someone else to get in a wreck because you were distracted by one of the signs, you will get a fine for inattentive driving.

The ticket is $150.

The city council looked at this issue and okayed the LED billboards. But they put some restrictions on how bright they can be.

The city has already asked that some signs be changed that were too bright.

If you see one you think is too bright call the mayor's action line.

The number is 596-2100.




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