Provincial authorities and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will soon coordinate with the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) to work out measures to impose strict regulations on advertisers.

She said a large percentage of billboards erected alongside inter-province roads and city streets had obstructed motorists' or pedestrians' views, causing a potential risk of accidents.

Many signboards carry sexually oriented material which is potentially against the law.

Dhipavadee, who supervises the OCPB, said it had fined an advertising company that published misleading information about a foreign-made beer on billboards and cinema advertising.

The measures will also be jointly regulated by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (Onep) within the next six months, said secretary-general Kasemsant Jinnawaso.

Apart from traffic signs, Onep will focus on controlling billboards erected near historic or religious sites in an inappropriate manner and those that spoil fine views. Other concerns are billboards that are dangerous, too large, too many and which publish improper content.

An Onep sub-committee has been set up to work on legal and clerical measures to impose the regulations, in compliance with a Cabinet decision on the matter in July 2004.

Commuters on buses or other public transport will also be protected from banners or stickers that may block their window view.

Onep will also inspect large billboards in Bangkok, 785 on the ground and other 538 on buildings, to check whether they are safe and properly installed.

There are 147 large billboards around Suvarnabhumi airport, which may endanger aviation, Kasamsant said.