There are distractions enough in driving today without the added problem of roadside advertising hoardings catching the eyes of motorists.

The Telegraph & Argus has already spoken out about the issue on motorways, but now it is evident that major roads are also falling victim to a proliferation of garish, attention- grabbing signage plastered on the side of vans or trailers and parked up by main roads or junctions.

Because the hoardings are on the sides of vehicles it is a simple matter for the owners to park them up at points where they will have most impact, and provided they park them legally there is nothing that can be done and no planning permission is required.

The problem was tackled in neighbouring Kirklees by the local authority painting double yellow lines along a particular stretch where the advertising vehicles were parked to get maximum exposure to motorists on the M62.

That has evidently worked well in that particular case, however, such action is not always possible on the ordinary road network. Banning parking on some roads could have a detrimental effect on residents or businesses as well as moving on the hoardings, and there are always patches of spare land or fields which the advertisers can utilise as well.

There is no easy solution to dealing with these advertising trailers, so it is up to the consciences of those who own them to try not to distract drivers too much, and for motorists themselves to remember to keep their eyes on the road and not on the wares or services being offered by hoardings, no matter how attention-grabbing.