Safety report deems billboard safe
- Independent assessment finds Bull Creek electronic billboard meets safety criteria
- Electronic billboard to be re-activated on Friday, July 8
An independent assessment of a digital LED electronic billboard on a Kwinana Freeway overpass bridge at Bull Creek railway station, near Leach Highway, has found it meets key safety guidelines.
The Department of Transport engaged the ARRB Group to conduct a safety assessment on the billboard, which measures 12.66 metres wide and 3.35 metres high, after it was activated in April 2015 raising public safety concerns.
In its report, ARRB found that the digital device 'is acceptable from a safety perspective' when assessed by the Main Roads Policy and Application Guidelines for Advertising Signs, an Austroads report AP-R420-13 and relevant research.
Transport Minister Dean Nalder said the Liberal National Government supported the use of billboards as an advertising tool, had accepted ARRB's findings on the Bull Creek advertising mechanism and would reactivate it on July 8.
"The billboard was assessed against safety relevant criteria that have been previously and successfully applied in a number of other jurisdictions in Australia," Mr Nalder said.
"The device will soon be reactivated, and to allay any public concerns we will adopt a conservative 'start-up' commissioning approach which is well within the Main Roads WA guidelines for advertising signs."
The Minister said use of the electronic billboard would meet strict safety and compliance guidelines regarding colour; changeover time; size and illumination, consistent with the ARRB Group's safety assessment advice.
"To assist road users to adapt to change, dwell times or the time allocated to particular advertisements will be extended to 60 seconds (from 45 seconds) and a lighting specialist will be in attendance to validate luminance levels," he said.
Mr Nalder said Main Roads Western Australia would further review the safety aspects of the billboard over forthcoming months.
Fact File