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Legal Guides
Jan
16
Huge Billboards, Little Type Fonts
Filed Under billboards
I’ve noticed a trend on billboards popping up around the Region.
Huge billboards displaying complicated messages directing people to visit websites using small font sizes that are impossible to read while driving by at the speed limit.
The Come IN signs soliciting businesses and people to move to Indiana because of lower taxes and housing costs are great, but the web address is impossible to read while driving 55 MPH. I suspect the state wants people to get the general idea — that message comes through strongly. But, I can’t remember what the web address is for the state’s welcome wagon because the font size is too small to read while driving by.
The same is true for a billboard along the Indiana Toll Road westbound near Cline Avenue advertising a college savings program. It has a huge “Diddly Squat” and then a web address with a lot of letters and numbers. I think the number “20″ might be in the address, but I’m not sure. The web URL is too long and the font size is too small to comprehend from a speeding car.
The worst — a billboard on I-65 south near 37th Avenue on the eastern side of the road — celebrating the King of Thailand or something to that effect. Or, it could be a protest against him. Is the King good or evil? Is he committing human rights abuses or is he a human rights hero? Should I travel to Thailand? Should I stay away? I can’t tell because there are multiple lines of type, including some in Thai (with no translation).
And, once again, the URL is extra long and extra small. (Maybe it’s an email address?) Adding to the comprehension problem is the fact is in the middle of a construction zone lined with jersey barriers and routinely patrolled by the State Police. I’m not going to lift my eyes from the constantly changing construction zone roadway to spend a couple of seconds reading a long message.
I’d love to check out the websites, but I’m not going to stop my car to read the billboards.
Next time, simplify the message and enlarge the website address for maximum comprehension.
Think of a billboard as a text message. Less is more.
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Funny that you should bring up the topic. I’m thinking about buying a billboard.
I don’t even think that having something like “Say no to the Lake County Income Tax. Vote for Buzzcut” will work. Too long!
BTW, should I have “Buzzcut” as my nickname on the ballot?
Hi Buzz,
Shorter is better since people only have a split second to see and comprehend a billboard while driving on any of the major highways here.
Buzzcut might be a good nickname on the ballot if that’s how the majority of people know you. It also have “cut” in the word which reinforces the idea of budget cuts for local government.