Driver Safety First: Government Moves to Regulate Roadside Ads in Greater Cairo

The roadside advertising system across Greater Cairo's highways and bridges is entering a new phase of regulation, as the National Authority for Regulating Public Road Advertising intensifies efforts to develop new plans governing billboard distribution. The goal is to strike a balance between investment returns and protecting the safety of car drivers and road users.

Coordination Meeting Sets New Framework

Engineer Eman Nabil, CEO of the National Authority for Regulating Public Road Advertising under the Cabinet of Ministers, held a coordination meeting with advertising sector specialists from Cairo, Giza, Qalyubia, and Fayoum governorates. The meeting reviewed the current status of billboards and followed up on preparing new plans according to the authority's guidebook, implementing the provisions of Law No. 208 of 2020 and its executive regulations.

17,000 Billboards Across Cairo and Giza Roads

The numbers are staggering. The meeting revealed the massive scale of the advertising system in Greater Cairo, with around 12,000 billboards in Cairo Governorate alone, while Giza Governorate exceeds 5,000 billboards. This high density reflects the vibrant advertising activity on main roads and arteries, yet it simultaneously demands strict regulation of billboard locations, sizes, and spacing — especially on roads and bridges experiencing heavy traffic — to avoid any potential impact on driver concentration or visibility while driving.

Nabil stressed that Greater Cairo's qualitative and quantitative weight makes it the primary engine for implementing the new controls and requirements, noting that successful advertising regulation in the region will serve as a model that can be replicated nationwide.

No Ads on Road Shoulders or Sidewalks

The authority emphasized the prohibition of encroaching on road shoulders or using pedestrian sidewalks for billboards, alongside compliance with specified distances between signs to ensure traffic flow isn't obstructed and drivers' visibility of roads, signals, and traffic signs remains clear. These controls carry particular significance on bridges and expressways, where billboard density or improper placement could distract drivers, especially given the higher traffic speeds.