Distracted driving....

[73hunter]

Distracted driving has been a big problem for a while and I fully agree with the stiff fines that we see being implemented

.....I commute down the 427 regularly and see the massive colour screens by the airport, and today saw two huge changeable screens on the 400 between Go Home Lake and 12 Mile Bay....

i suppose for government distracted driving is a problem problem until advertising revenues are a possibility ?

[fishermccann]

Do you not read every billboard you pass at least once? No signs along the road now? Does government get the money or the landowner who rents the land to the sign companies?

[sawbill]

Your eyes don't have to re-focus on a hiqhway sign but they have to do exactly that with a hand held device. I don't see signs as a distraction except when a semi blocks them off just when you're looking for your exit.

[Bushmoose]

So what is it you do when driving down the road looking for a street sign? Not arguing the fact distracted driving can be and is dangerous, but I think you're pushing the envelope to suggest billboards might be?

[JMatthews]

Looking at signs isn’t the issue. The issue is people not concentrating on driving. I used to drive between Kitchener and Markham and I can’t tell you how many times I had to adjust my driving to avoid people trying to do something else while driving. One of the biggest issues was people almost rear ending me when traffic suddenly stopped.
I now live in rural Bruce County and you would think this wouldn’t be as much of a problem, but it is. So many times you see people looking down at phones, etc and start to cross the centre line into my lane. Everyone needs to just pay attention when they are driving.

[Snowwalker]

Construction zones are getting to be a double problem. First people don't understand half the signs. Secondly at night there are so many vehicles parked with very bright lights flashing and blinding people, that you some times can't clearly see workers or equipment moving around.

[Sharon]

Looking at signs isn’t the issue. The issue is people not concentrating on driving. I used to drive between Kitchener and Markham and I can’t tell you how many times I had to adjust my driving to avoid people trying to do something else while driving. One of the biggest issues was people almost rear ending me when traffic suddenly stopped.
I now live in rural Bruce County and you would think this wouldn’t be as much of a problem, but it is. So many times you see people looking down at phones, etc and start to cross the centre line into my lane. Everyone needs to just pay attention when they are driving.

Never found billboards to be a problem.

HIghway 6 in the Bruce is one of the most dangerous highways in ON. One would think it would be a nice leisurely drive from Wiarton to Tobermory , but not so. Maybe they are rushing to get to the ferry.

( Had my license suspended by a Dr. this week due to Parkinson's disease. I pass out unexpectedly - not good for driving. )

[Snowwalker]

Never found billboards to be a problem.

HIghway 6 in the Bruce is one of the most dangerous highways in ON. One would think it would be a nice leisurely drive from Wiarton to Tobermory , but not so. Maybe they are rushing to get to the ferry.

( Had my license suspended by a Dr. this week due to Parkinson's disease. I pass out unexpectedly - not good for driving. )

Sorry to hear about that Sharon. It's a hard thing to loose.

[trimmer21]

Never found billboards to be a problem.

HIghway 6 in the Bruce is one of the most dangerous highways in ON. One would think it would be a nice leisurely drive from Wiarton to Tobermory , but not so. Maybe they are rushing to get to the ferry.

( Had my license suspended by a Dr. this week due to Parkinson's disease. I pass out unexpectedly - not good for driving. )

I'm sorry to hear that,Sharon. That will boring as h**l with no wheels. Hub will be doing double duty as your chauffeur. My pet peeve with driving distractions is LED roof lights on Police cruisers and other highway safety vehicles. They don't bother my eyes during the day,but,at night,they're like flashbulbs going off. It's difficult for some people to keep a visual reference. I think they contribute to some of the night collisions with emergency vehicles parked on the side of the road with violators or disabled vehicles. I'm a big fan of the new "move over" regulations. They've been a long time coming.

[73hunter]

My point was that these large full colour changeable signs are a significant departure from ordinary billboards, and in my opinion are a step in the wrong direction. People seem to have a hard enough time focusing on driving. The guess I’m in the minority.

As for who gets the revenue, as the ones on the 400 are on MTO property, I imagine they’re getting a cut. In fairness, there’s probably also an agreement to broadcast emergency messaging when required.