Beware of billboards

Beware of billboards

From Neraca

The collapse of a Ramayana store billboard on Jl. Bekasi Timur in East Jakarta last week killed a street vendor.

The case should serve as an example for the responsible parties to take action in preventing the dislodging of other billboards, particularly in this rainy and stormy season.

The billboards on Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Pramuka are of such immense size, they must have been produced by big advertising bureaus. These billboards are supported by iron frames which are inadequate to hold things in place.

I would appeal to the advertising bureaus to seriously consider the safety of the environment and not only to seek the biggest profits from the space facility given by the Jakarta administration.

I would also request the Jakarta administration to make an evaluation of the requirements for billboard installation in the face of the heavy rain and strong winds which have lately hit the capital city.

It seems to me there are no standard requirements for a safe construction of a billboard supporting framework. The Jakarta administration needs to implement strict standard requirements for the purpose.

The many giant billboards projected against Jakarta's skyline, like huge plants in the jungle, are becoming serious threats for all road users passing the area or those taking shelter when it rains.

KARMANDI

Jakarta