I’m not sure how many of you have seen this video of a British PSA about texting while driving. Warning - it is graphic and upsetting!!
Very effective, though.
Facinating. What a big budget production.
I am no paramedic, but, if anything, I thought they went a little light on the gore. I would expect to see some lower leg open fractures, and much more badly mashed up heads and faces in such an impact.
The emergency response depiction seemed totally realistic and first class, including the multiple helicopters.
That lingering shot on the baby’s face, I didn’t quite catch its meaning. It’s unnatural to have a baby so still (doesn’t even blink), so are they trying to say it’s deceased? yet it doesn’t have a mark, and babies strapped in their car seats can survive impacts that would kill all adult occupants.
It would be interesting to hear what EMS & firefighter dopers would think of this.
I love the way British and Aussie PSAs can be so strong without being one bit preachy or moralistic, just by depicting the awfulness of reality, and saying to the audience: “Well, this is what you can expect, now make your choice…” Perfect for today’s kids that have high-powered moralizing deflector shields.
Here it is on Youtube.
I saw it on TV a few nights ago. Every teenager should be forced to watch this. My 11 year old (texting) daughter saw it with us. I hope it sticks.
Here’s a real life example.
ETA: Oops. I guess the OP was on Youtube too. Sorry. It first linked to a Facebook page and I assumed login was required.
That’s very elaborate compared to most. Some are really gruesome. This one airs here regularly. I “like” this one.
I think one of the most effective things about the PSA in the OP is that it is implied, but not spelled out, that people died in that crash. The shot of the baby unnaturally still and not blinking makes me think the baby’s dead, but it allows me the faint hope that she made it. By my count, there could be up to six people dead by the end of that ad - the baby, the two parents, the two passengers in the car that caused the crash and the driver of the red car. Perhaps the driver of the original car is meant to ‘die’ in front of the camera when she closes her eyes at the end, making seven. The only one who is clearly going to live is that 6-ish girl who’s asking her mummy and daddy to wake up.
Here’s hoping that ad works!
Interesting. An ad aimed at teenagers and freely airs in the UK requires 18+ age verification on Youtube.
Brilliant! Almost like Red Asphalt meets Final Destination. But it wasn’t violent enough… it was surprisingly goreless to the point that it didn’t really seem real (then again, I’m accustomed to Hollywood).
Try this one:
Good god. That one haunts me and I haven’t even done anything.
They should really do more of these in North America.
There are numerous ones, although I can’t find them all on youtube. I don’t know if they actually work however, I started a thread here before asking about their efficacy.
Here’s that other thread, has some more links to ads.
I find it ironic that in America the most violent, gory scenes found in movies and video games are considered “acceptable” for viewing (even by children), yet a PSA attempting to portray a realistic traffic accident is not.
Very good.
Linkies no worky.
Please note only by some parents. This type of show is not something to air on television as a commercial ever. This would be good for drivers education classes.
Our stupid state had a drunk driver commercial on a few weeks ago that should have lost somebody their job. All day for a whole weekend some guy is profusely bleeding all over the place representing the person he killed. Blood is flowing and he’s covered in it. Had my toddler niece been around it would have terrorized her.
EMT’s opinion: Maybe I’m just cynical, but I don’t see these ads doing a lot of good. They may help some, but part of the problem is that while everyone knows texting and driving is unsafe, no one thinks it will happen to them. In teens especially - they know it’s unsafe (and illegal, depending on where you are), but they all think it won’t happen to them.
There’s an attitude of, “Oh, it’s okay, I can text and pay attention to the road, and nothing bad will happen. It’s scary when Pashleigh is driving and texts, but I’m good at it, and I’m a good driver, so it’ll be okay.” :rolleyes:
It’s like just drinking and driving, IMO. People know it’s wrong and unsafe, but no one thinks the worst could happen to them. It’ll happen to someone else. Yeah, right.
In addition, I used to work for a private ambulance company that used DriveCams in the ambulances. These are digital cameras that are triggered by unsafe movements, sudden stops or accidents. I was constantly amazed at the number of people who were suspended for texting and setting off the camera because they had to panic stop *because they weren’t paying attention! *
(And some were eventually fired for multiple violations)
How did you come to this conclusion? Movies, TV shows, games and music all have parental advisories attached. Some movie theaters won’t let kids watch R-rated films, some game stores won’t let kids by M-rated games, etc. Beyond that, it’s up to the parents to decide what their kids can and cannot see, or better yet, educate them about what they’re gonna see eventually.
And in driver’s ed classes people are sometimes forced to watch gruesome videos of accidents. As for why there aren’t more of those on TV, I don’t know, but I rarely see PSAs of any sort, really.
Sorry to have missed your earlier thread, An Gadaí - I think the fundamental problem is that the people who respond to these ads are the people who are already aware of the consequences of bad driving. Certainly some of the YouTube comments after the one about the man haunted by the child he killed indicate that some of the unrepentant speeders just don’t give a shit about anybody else’s life. I think one of our big problems is that 49% of drivers are below average, yet some of the worst drivers consider themselves above average drivers. Canada’s Worst Driver is into its fourth season, and there seems to be no shortage of fresh candidates.
I remember an incident years ago, when I used to have to cross two busy streets to take my kids to day care. One evening, we had the green light and the pedestrian signal to cross Bathurst St., but there was a car turning right onto Bathurst and the driver was looking left to see if there were any oncoming cars as he turned right. I bellowed at him to pay attention. He let us cross, but stopped as he turned left into a nearby driveway (blocking two lanes of southbound traffic in the process) to tell me to relax, he was a very good driver. I got out of the way, and explained that unless he had lights or reflectors on the side of his car, he was setting himself up to be t-boned, especially as it was twilight and once the traffic light just south of him turned green, southbound traffic had no reason to expect to have to stop.
I’ve no idea what it will take, but I wish more people would drive (and ride) in traffic as if their lives depended on it. Maybe PSAs will help. Personally, I favour severe corporal discipline for traffic offenses. Twenty lashes strapped over your hot engine for talking on a cell phone, that sort of thing. Let’s have the Royal Navy on the roadside for a few years.