Tranquility Workshops Blog

In today’s local newspaper (Telegram and Gazette), I read that the Massachusetts Senate voted yesterday to ban text messaging while driving.  They have even agreed to make texting a primary offense, which means that the police can stop drivers who are observed to be doing so.  Great!  The roads will be safer without all of the distraction, and people can be more mindful of driving.

As I continued reading, I came up another article, outlining a plan designed to distract motorists!  It seems that billboard companies  are considering a 6 mile stretch of an extremely busy highway in Worcester (I-290 ), as a test area for digital billboards.  These new types of billboards are brighter, flashier, change messages every 10 seconds,  and have  a greater ability to “attract and hold the attention” of passing motorists. 

Local businesses are excited about the opportunity for this type of advertising, which may be more cost effective for them.

The chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals is concerned that the frequently changing images on the billboards could cause people to get  momentarily distracted  while they’re driving on this busy road. 

The article outlines research that will be done to determine if the billboards result in more crashes.  Near misses will not be accounted for, as they are not reported.  The article states that the Federal Highway Administration believe that the pilot study has “inherent weaknesses, that will limit the ability to produce statistically sound data.”

My advice once again is to give your full attention to safely navigating the roads, because all it takes is one moment of distraction ……..