Moving billboard “are dangerous” says instructor

Electronic billboards – a new feature in Cayman – are a hazard and an accident waiting to happen according to one driving expert.

The new displays have been fitted at the Hurley’s roundabout and inform drivers about community announcements.

But according to Graham Walker, a driving instructor for almost 20 years, the signs are a dangerous distraction to motorists.

The electronic “blinking” signs change every ten seconds and tell people of community events and important messages.

Mr Walker said: “The electronic displays do not add anything to road safety and anything which distracts drivers from traffic conditions – in other words these displays – are dangerous.”

The signs are being managed by the dms organisation and have been given permission by the Cayman Islands Planning Authority.
But, iNews Cayman has learned, the National Roads Authority raised objections when the planning application was made. Despite this, permission has been given for the signs to be put in place.

Mr Walker added: “Butterfield roundabout is probably the most difficult (dangerous) one on the island closely followed by what is generally known as Hurley’s roundabout.

“It is as if the designers thought to themselves, what is the most stupid and dangerous idea we can come 
up with?”

Spokesperson for dms, Trina Savage, said that the company had been given approval for the signs by the Cayman Islands Planning Authority, and that the signs were presently up for a “test period,” but did not specify that period’s length.

Ms Savage also said that she was aware of the distraction issue and that one of the stipulations given to the company was that the illuminated L.E.D display should not change too quickly: “Each slide will go up for 10 seconds. We have also taken some of our own measures, for example, there is also a fade-in, from one slide to another.”

Ms Savage added that the signs were not “regular advertising” and that they contained announcements that were in the nature of “community announcements.”

But former Chief Secretary of the Ministry of District Administration Works Lands & Agriculture, Mr. Kearney Gomez, said he felt the signs could distract drivers.

He added: “The Planning Authority approved the signs but the Roads Authority didn’t, because it’s a distraction. It’s a very busy roundabout and if people are not looking where they are going it could be dangerous.”

Mr. Gomez also said that in this situation the Central Planning Authority didn’t have the authority to overrule the objections of the NRA: “The NRA has the authority in this case,” he said.

In the minutes of the Central Planning Authority meeting on 31 August, when the authority discussed the application for the signs, the following judgment was made:

“The Authority considered the matter further and determined that the application could be approved for the following reasons:

“1) Consistent with Section 1.3 (e) of The Development Plan 1997, the proposed signs allow community service oriented organizations to improve the internal communication on the Island.

“2) The Authority does not concur with the Department of Planning, the National Roads Authority and the objector that the proposed signs pose an unsafe distraction to travelling motorists. The signs are 55’ away from the internal edge of the roundabout and are positioned such that they will be viewed in a straight line as vehicles approach the roundabout. The signs and their 18 messages will have been viewed before vehicles enter the roundabout and will not interfere with or distract drivers as they manoeuvre through and exit the roundabout.

“3) The signs will not be allowed to display commercial signage, videos or other moving images.”
The National Roads Authority concerns were also noted, however:  “The NRA does not wish to set precedence by allowing signage (digital  VMS signs) of this sort on any of the roundabouts. Not only will it be a distraction to motorists but it also could lead to commercial ventures in the future, something that the NRA does not endorse.”