Road Safety

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:15): My question is to the Minister for Transport. Can the minister update the house on what current controls and safety standards are in place to minimise the distraction to drivers caused by large electronic scrolling advertising, especially on highways with speed zones of 80 km/h and greater?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:16): Sorry, can you repeat the first part of that question?

Ms BEDFORD: Can the minister update the house on what current controls and safety standards apply to minimise the distraction to drivers caused by the placement of large electronic scrolling advertising on overhead passes on highways where the speed zone exceeds 80 km/h?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I'm very happy to look into the detail, as far as what the framework is around those advertising signs and what would happen. I would have no doubt that a national standard would be my guesstimate on that, but I will have a look at that and see. There would be that type of system in place right across the country. We do have advertising signs—advertising hoardings—on major roads and of course safety would be of the most paramount importance when those are put in place. I would presume that there are some standards that the department would work to, as would every other department right across the nation. My suggestion would be that they would be national standards, but again I will get the detail of that and get back to the member.