The advertising industry has evolved rapidly with the advent of digital out-of-home advertising (e.g. digital billboards and signage in places ranging from elevators to sports stadiums) and mobile digital advertising (on phones and other mobile devices).  At the same time, transportation and vehicle technology has evolved to enhance safety, from open road tolling to vehicle crash sensors. 

With these major advancements, why shouldn’t public transportation advertising and safety evolve as well?

There is a new technology that provides for safe, on-road advertising. It allows for digital displays on the back of vehicles that communicate advertisements, public service announcements and emergency messages (e.g. AMBER alerts and extreme weather alerts) while also displaying turn, brake and other vehicle operation signals to help avoid accidents and distractions on the roadways. The technology also uses geo-fencing to customize advertising and messaging based on a vehicle's location. Importantly, the technology turns off advertising and messaging displays and replaces them with highly visible operating signals (e.g. turn and brake signals) when a vehicle's traditional operating signals are triggered, thus enhancing the visibility of the operating signal and, in turn, improving safety for the vehicle's passengers and drivers and passengers in other vehicles. 

The technology has been used in other states including California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Texas.

I am introducing legislation that would permit public transportation fleet owners to use this new technology in Pennsylvania to enhance revenue and safety. 

Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to modernize public transportation advertising and safety and unlock new revenue sources for public transportation agencies.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 777 (May 12, 2025): 75-4307(g)