Digital screen on Ferreira street in Mbombela – bright idea or not?
There are mixed feelings about the new digital screen in Ferreira Street.
Not everyone is impressed with the new digital screen on Ferreira Street. While some motorists do not mind, others call it disruptive.
Nikki Reinhardt said knowing how reckless Mbombela drivers are, the screen’s brightness at night among the non-functioning street lights will lead to accidents. “I think they should have fixed the street lights and not have placed the huge screen in such a dangerous spot. Speeding motorists will lose control of their cars while looking at it,” she said.
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Le-Verne Wagner said she did not mind it, but found it exceptionally bright and distracting. She also feared that its placement so close to the traffic lights could lead to accidents. “The other problem with the one at Elmadré is that people start looking at it as they come downhill and will not focus on the traffic at the robots, and this will lead to accidents. The screen should rather have been placed more towards the bus stop,” she said.
Inge Prinsloo said, “Businesses depend on marketing. I don’t mind them at all. Anything you pay attention to other than driving can cause accidents, which is why motorists should focus on the road, not cellphones, eating, drinking, passengers or advertising. It is the driver’s responsibility to be focused. I quite enjoyed watching the ads while standing still in traffic these past two mornings, and my kids enjoyed it too. They even argued less on the way to school,” she said.
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The spokesperson for the City of Mbombela, Joseph Ngala, said digital screens on streets are sources of income for the municipality. He also explained that screens are installed by service providers according to municipal by-laws for outdoor advertising. These states that any electronic sign shall not obstruct the view of motorists and pedestrians or be in direct line of sight of the traffic. It shall also not have subliminal flashes. Electronical signs are permitted only if not leading to unsafe driving conditions or having a detrimental effect on the surrounding area.
