The issue sets in place when the sun goes down. It is dark and the only lights illuminating the road are either the dim headlights or the roadside lamps. But those won’t affect your driving. If they do, maybe minimal effect would interfere with your vision. And then suddenly, big, bright electronic billboards hit your eyes. Is this God’s calling?

No, if you’re driving within the speed limit. But let’s talk about the electronic billboards that are facing drivers on the road. Are they too bright that you had to squint your eyes during your drive?

Malaysia’s Outdoor Billboard Regulations

In Malaysia, outdoor billboard advertising is regulated by the Local Government Act 1976 and the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, along with district council by-laws. Electronic billboards are allowed between 6:00am and 1:00am daily. Brightness regulations, measured by a lux meter, require approval from both the Public Works Department (JKR) and TNB. For large billboards in city limits, the maximum permissible luminance is 300 cd/m2 at night.

How Is The Measurement Done?

Explaining the units, cd/m2 stands for candela steradian per square meter, a measure of illuminance and luminous emittance. In their study, a calibrated lux meter was used, measuring illuminance in lux or lumen per square meter, with the convenient equivalence of one cd/m2 to one lux. To simplify, they used cd/m2 for compliance with legal limits.

Equipped with this setup, paultan.org conducted measurements on the roads and highways of Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, and the Federal Highway. Stops were made at selected locations with electronic billboards, ensuring minimal interference from other light sources due to midnight measurements and slightly cloudy ambient conditions. Readings were taken from five locations, such as the LDP at Kelana Jaya station eastbound, Jalan Maarof at Bangsar Village, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Sprint Highway at the Section 17 intersection, and Sheraton Petaling Jaya on Jalan Utara.

Although the measurement specs recommend a one-meter distance, the readings were taken from a standing position approximately 20 to 30 meters away from the billboards.

The Results

In Bangsar, measurements of 170 and 207 cd/m2 were registered at Bangsar Village and Jalan Maarof, respectively. Notably, the color and graphics displayed on the screen had a considerable influence on the light readings, with white-based ads yielding higher values. For accuracy, only the maximum value during testing was recorded.

At the Sprint Section 17 intersection, a peak value of 184 cd/m2 was documented. It’s worth mentioning that while this reading narrowly complied with regulations, standing in front of the billboard during the display of the brightest advertisements had a pronounced effect. The intensity was almost bright enough to be discomforting, potentially causing disturbance. However, such perceptions are subjective and may vary from person to person.

In Petaling Jaya, at Sheraton PJ, they encountered a billboard so bright that it cast shadows. Surprisingly, the measurement yielded a relatively low reading of 134.7 cd/m2. However, the LDP in Kelana Jaya, and indeed, they recorded an astonishingly high reading of 277 cd/m2.

The measurements highlight a significant dependence on the advertisement content for overall illumination. The colours and graphics, especially with white and yellow tones, play a crucial role, influencing the recorded values.

While recorded values for billboards fell within limits, it’s crucial to note measurements were taken from a distance. If measured as per regulations from one meter away, values likely exceed the 300 cd/m2 limit, as seen with the Kelana Jaya screen at 277 cd/m2 from 30 meters. The observed brightness while driving raises concerns about distractions and momentary blindness for drivers. Some billboards, in their assessment, potentially violate regulations, prompting questions about their allocation.

Image Credits: Paultan.org