SCRUB fights Pennsylvania’s request for electronic advertising

    A group against the proliferation of billboards is taking aim at Pennsylvania’s request to make some money running ads on highway message signs. The group says the advertising could result in more accidents.

    A group against the proliferation of billboards is taking aim at Pennsylvania’s request to make some money running ads on highway message signs. The group says the advertising could result in more accidents.

    Mary Tracy Executive Director of the group SCRUB, Society Created To Reduce Urban Blight, says the flashing message signs are designed to be glanced at for safety information, not used to sell items to distracted drivers.

    “You are looking at this message you are looking as you go by and you think ‘oh is that a message for me to slow down, or is that a message for me to by soda at reduced rates.’ I think that is a huge danger.”

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    Tracy says the message signs are bright and draw a driver’s attention away from the road, possibly just enough to cause a rear end accident ….or worse.

    California has been denied twice by the federal government to put advertising on that state’s message signs. Now California, Florida and Pennsylvania are making the request together.

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