RACQ eases its opposition to electronic billboards on roads - Toowoomba Chronicle

A digital billboard over the Gateway Motorway APN Outdoor

THE RACQ has relaxed its opposition to the Queensland Transport Department's rollout of large electronic billboards directly above some of the state's busiest roads.

The motoring body had earlier been urging the department to scrap plans to install up to 90 electronic signs across the state amid concerns they were a dangerous distraction to drivers.

RACQ's senior traffic and safety engineer Greg Miszkowycz told the ABC at the weekend the Transport Department has taken the necessary steps to choose the best locations for digital billboards.

"The billboards can also be overridden for incidents or a particular community message they want to get across," he said.

"We don't want to see a proliferation of these on the road network.

"Ultimately they are a distraction, but they have chosen a set number and obtained research to ensure the billboards will only be at the safest locations."

A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Scott Emerson told the ABC electronic billboards had already been installed in five locations around Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

She said revenue raised from such billboards was used to fund road safety initiatives.