Natchez aldermen are smart to put the brakes on further billboard construction in the City of Natchez until the issue can be fully discussed.

In recent months, several new billboards have gone up in the city as billboard company owners recognize the city’s current unrestrictive billboard rules.

Several times in the past, the city has mulled what to do about billboards, and in recent years, the digital variety that light up brightly and change their messages quickly.

City leaders should consider restricting the proliferation of billboards for two reasons.

First, in the historic district, billboards detract from the historic charm and ambiance of our city’s most prominent feature.

Second, billboards — in particular the digital variety — by their very nature are seeking to attract the attention of motorists.

Drivers already have too many things vying for their attention. The last thing we need is more visual distractions.

Ideally, we’d hope city leaders would realize billboards are not a necessity for any business and the distractions of them far outweigh the good. To that end, city leaders should simply work to get rid of all billboards in the city.

Short of that, the city should at least work hard to limit their numbers and place a moratorium on new ones.

As much as we dislike digital billboards both aesthetically and from a safety standpoint, if the city were to trade a single new digital billboard location for the reduction of six to 10 traditional billboards, at the very least, the clutter would be lessened over time.

The public good will be served best by restricting these heavily rather than allowing billboard companies to turn our city into a NASCAR racecar, emblazoned with sponsor ads.