Road Safety Ads on TV - Vent

**jojojonsey** · 08-05-2007 23:18

I am so sick of seeing graphic road safety commercials on TV.

I've just seen the new Queensland Transport one about "No accidents" and it is appalling. Are they somehow exempt from advertising standards?

If I watch a movie I get warnings as to what to expect - whether it be language, sex, violence, adult themes etc. But yet I can just be flicking channels and see something 10x more graphic than they put in movies.

And does it actually help?? Would it be better to spend the million or so dollars that it would cost to make and play those adverts on actual targeted road safety education? Things like seminars and education sessions for those who are caught speeding or driving dangerously - rather than a loss of points and a fine and a fingers crossed that they don't do it again?

I'm a big scardy-cat when i drive at the best of times and rather than make me more careful - these ads make me more fearful of what the idiots I see on the road are capable of and quite frankly I am sick of living in fear and want actual solutions!

end of rant!

**LilShenanigans** · 09-05-2007 00:22

The most graphic road safety ad I have ever seen was in New Zealand... horrible stuff!

I do think most ads should have warnings these days. They are generally played during the day and kids are watching!

If I want my child to watch gruesome stuff, she'd be better off watching Alien DVDs!

Same goes for smoking ads, all good and well on cigarette packets - people over 18 are usually the only ones that notice... But 5 year olds watching those ads makes me

**PunkyDiva** · 09-05-2007 00:31

I know they are gruesome guys but stats show people actually take notice with visual stuff like these ads. Especially the anti smoking ones, children are a huge influence on parents and loved ones here, reason they're educating parents on stuff through what the child learns at school and brings home to share and implement. Just as having teens/multiple violation offenders visit hospital wards or having visits from disabled people seems to reinforce the message some how. Just makes it more real and reductions are seen.

**punkbaby** · 09-05-2007 07:49

I freak when i watch them so do my kids, it hits home so i usually turn it over.

Some are horrible but punkdiva is right it makes people notice, you would hope it would have more affect though but if it stops one guy doing what he did to us then its one step closer to making the road safer.

I think they should put them on at certain times of the day though as its not nice to see an add during the middle of some kids program not for the younger ones anyhow, but they need a wide range of audiences i guess

**jojojonsey** · 09-05-2007 07:55

I worry that it desensitises people. That they just flick over and avoid them (like i do) or that they are able to watch them because they can handle it (like people who are able to watch horror movies without cringing) so perhaps they don't see the reality in it.

And it doesn't seem to be working is my main problem with it. I still see just as many people on the roads doing stupid things and unfortunately the road toll seems to be growing not diminishing.

At what stage do we say "enough is enough" with those ads when they just keep getting more and more graphic?

**Pobblebonk** · 09-05-2007 08:03

Remember the one where the father in the car with the son hits the mother out on a walk pushing her bub in a pram? I used to live next door to the girl who played the mother.

I actually think they are GOOD for educating us on the realities of dangerous driving practices. Most of us would never be faced with that reality, or witness that reality, and I know that every time I watch the one where the mum drives straight through a crossing and hits the young girl... It's just such a horrible thing and I would NEVER want to be that mum, how would you live with yourself? So ads like this make me much more aware of my speed, the surrounds, etc.

But then, I'm always the one barking things like 'Every k over is a killer', and 'do you drive too fast for the unexpected?' and 'enough is enough'...

ETA. It doesn't desensitise ME to the repercussions of dangerous driving. It makes me THINK more about what my (if I did) speeding has the potential to do.

**bekkyboo** · 09-05-2007 08:06

I cant stand that new "no accidents" ad either... I dont honestly think it will hit home with the right people that really need the hitting home with... Yeah it will work for some, but i doubt the majority.

Education is key - i just wish that the government would realise that. The more graphic the ads get, the more it becomes like a movie - and people just switch off again and say 'It wouldnt happen to me"

On the smoking ads - the only one that actually would get me to stop smoking (if i did) if the baby one. The rest i just cant related to - i cant imagine that being mine or anything. But the baby one really hits.

A warning before those ads would be good... As G gets older i dont want him watching things like that - poor kid will have nightmares - for no good reason. I stick to the letter of the law - i reguard my licence as a privledge and value my life, my families lives and everyone else on the road.

If they want to stop things happening there also needs to be more police prescence! Where were they ysterday when i was overtaken because i was doing the speed limit, by about 5 cars who then blocked the lane that i needed to merge into? Why is that people think that speeding is ok??

**lotti** · 09-05-2007 08:07

Should be in a time slot where kids aren't watching.
Apart from that I love the adverts and hate the scum who drive like idiots. More needs to be done when they are caught.

**meme** · 09-05-2007 08:21

i dislike them, they upset me and i have never watched it through. i change the channel.

i think a confident driver is more likely a better driver than a fearful one and these ads do not inspire confidence in me - they freak me out!! lol!

they do not overtly influence my driving, although i like to think i drive safely anyway, i've got kids in my car and i dont' want to put them (or anyone else) in danger.

i think practical solutions to improve driver training or some such would be a better solution.

**bekkyboo** · 09-05-2007 08:32

Well said Meme....

A fearful driver is a hesitant one - and hesitation causes accidents...

The problem does swing both ways...

They really need to address the issue more effectively with targeted education.

In some areas NSW (not sure about other states) you have to attend DD clinics after being caught for DUI... These clinics are run by different areas - but the one i knew of was run by my dad (a ambo of over 30 years). He would really hit it home to them the danger they place on everyone and themselves - without it being the "cops" jumping down their throats with the law...

If they had defenisive driving and general hands on driver training - forceable after speeding fines and such - they need to hit the people who are actually commiting the crime.

It makes me ponder...??? hmmm - Ill ask this in another thread....