There is a silent killer on our roads potentially as dangerous as a drunk driver.

There are a high percentage of people who are Photosensitive/highly sensitive to flickering, flashing, and strobing lights. Drivers who may have not known that they have this sensitivity, will be affected by this and they may get dizzy, experience vertigo and it may even cause seizures for both them and their passengers. These billboards are designed and manufactured specifically to get your attention and distract you. If you're the driver of a vehicle, this can be deadly, even if you don't have photosensitivity issues. 

"Photosensitive epilepsy is a type of epilepsy, in which all, or almost all, seizures are triggered by flashing or flickering light...The seizure(s) will usually happen at the time of, or shortly after, looking at the trigger." (See more here: https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/photosensitive-epilepsy)

We have warnings on video games, music videos, and even movies warn about flickering lights that may cause photosensitive seizures. And yet nothing has been said about the mass introduction of flashing LED billboards and now LED taillights/headlights. LED lights have a high flicker/refresh rate, and digital billboards with their changing messages can cause these seizures and other optical issues as well. 

Looking away doesn't help either, as your peripheral vision sees the flashing lights and images and this can cause the seizures as well. Many states have laws against these billboards and digital LED's and signs, and many health organizations and environmental groups have spoken out against the proliferation of this potentially deadly form of advertising. 

We have laws against texting while driving, watching videos while driving and driving while intoxicated, but don't have a law against intentional distractions as a means of advertising.

"When you send or open a text while driving, you're taking your eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. At 55 mph, that's the equivalent of driving the length of a football field — blindfolded.

But texting isn't the only activity behind the wheel that can interfere with your ability to drive safely. Snacking, adjusting your GPS, disciplining children and numerous other distractions can put you at risk for an accident.

Even our navigation systems in our cars warn us of the dangers of taking our eyes off the road even for a second while driving, yet these brightly lit digital billboards and LED light billboards are intended to make us do just that; watch them and not the road.

"The way we think about distractions is different kind of tasks can distract you in different ways. Things that take your mind off the road or some things can take your hands off the road, or they can take your eyes off the road. The more ways they distract you the more dangerous it's going to be." - Arthur Goodwin, University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center (See more here: http://archive.digtriad.com/news/hangup/article/144590/287/Distracted-Drivers-Take-Eyes-Hands-And-Brain-Off-The-Road)

Please help us stop this epidemic and sign our petition. Thank you.