March 7, 2008
Terrifying Pedestrian Safety Ads Running in D.C.
The Post's Clarence Williams alerts us to the new ad campaign from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments's Street Smart program, which aims to scare the bejeezus out of drivers and pedestrians in the hopes that we'll all be a lot more careful out on the road. A new study shows that on average more than 80 people die and 2,000 people are injured a year in pedestrian accidents in the Washington region.
In addition to bus and transit shelter posters like the one at the right, which depict pedestrians being hit by cars and buses, MWCOG is also running a radio spot containing screaming and brake sounds that's right out of a horror film. All of the Street Smart ads are available for download from their web site, though we're having trouble downloading the radio spot, which was produced in both English and Spanish. The Post is also streaming it on their web site (although unfortunately you'll have to sit through one of their ads before you can listen). The radio spot begins with the screams, brakes and collision noises. Then a Hollywood thriller-style announcer comes on and says the following in a foreboding tone:
When your car hits a pedestrian, speed kills. At 40 mph, the person almost always dies. At 25, they might live. Drive like their life depends on it. Slow down. Watch for pedestrians. Stop for them at crosswalks. Area police are strictly enforcing safety laws. It's Street Smart of D.C., Maryland and Virginia. streetsmart.mwcog.org.The Post article quotes officials saying their scare tactics are purposeful -- they want all of us to be afraid of being hit by a bus. Personally, ever since I saw that video of two women being struck and killed by a Metrobus last year, I've been plenty scared already.
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So does that car have MD or VA tags? Also, I don't see the cellphone in the driver's hand...
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Ummm....I have mixed feeling, yes drivers and pedestrians need to pay more attention; but the idea of running over some yuppie coming out of Starbucks does warm my heart.
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The cup of coffee is a nice touch. Minus two points, however, because any self-respecting coffee drinking gringo pedestrian in the District would also be wearing an ipod while talking on a cell phone.
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I think that poster is every Starbucks hater's fantasy. And they need to Photoshop a Bluetooth headset on that guy. Also, Bill Cosby called. He wants his sweater back.
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way to go, mwcog, now all the cool kids are going to want to hood surf with a coffee in their hand.
get in on the ground floor for this hip new trend!
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The ped's arm also blocks the look of smug self-satisfaction that was probably on their face, too.
The typeface (font) used is a bit reminiscent of lolcat, though.
I can haz stunt dubbl? Kthxbai!
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monkey, that can't be a bill cosby sweater! there are only two colors on it.
bill would never wear a sweater with such a simple pattern!
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Its worth pointing out that driving with one hand on the wheel at 12 o'clock is one of the worst places in the event of a crash, that is if you like having front teeth.
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Yeah, it's more like some lazy-ass Charlie Brown sweater that can't even manage a zigzag. And checkout the driver; he's like, "Eat fiberglass, punk!" And his girlfriend is like, "Must.... protect... face!"
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Is it just me or does this ad look like a DC yuppie reenactment of Death Proof? It's got everything, from the screaming chick in the passenger's seat, to the surprisingly calm stunt driver, the flying body parts, and the indestructible death mobile (c'mon, that flying corpse didn't even dent the car. It's still showroom shiny!).
Though I've gotta admit, I'd rather get tagged by Kurt Russel in a souped-up Chevy Nova than some intern in a Dodge Neon. (I'll leave the definition of "tagged" up to the reader's imagination)
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The passenger looks like she is cackling with delight and telling the driver whoo-hoo ten points while at the same time looking sort of disappointed that they hit a ped instead of a bicyclist. Cuz we all know that hitting a biker is worth 20 and one with fixed gears an nice 50.
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NOT VIOLENT ENOUGH. Both drivers and pedestrians are living in a dangerous trance-state out there. Or worse, swaggering or cruising around with some arrogant assumption that the universe will pause to let their regal asses pass by.
So please send this campaign back to the agency. I want to see limbs bent at impossible angles. A jawbone flying in a majestic arc over the car. I want to see an ocean of blood. Weeping witnesses. All that.
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dudes wife was probably nagging him about heading up to the new target when he plowed into yuppie starbucks guy.
in addition to the generic "pay attention" ad, there should be a series featuring people in situations likely to occur most often in the district: douchey bike messenger riding like a maniac, georgia ave jaywalker crossing against the light, etc.
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I know I'm in good company when I agree 100% with all the postings here. But the neon green sweater hurts my eyes.
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blittle: If you hit a pregnant nun in a wheelchair, you win the game!
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I'm gonna have to fault the driver on this one.
If you look at the pedestrian's orientation he was clearly coming from across the street and the driver should have noticed A BRIGHT ASS green sweater walking there.
No, I will not consider that it was a one way street or the pedestrian is jay walking. If there is one rule I live by, its to ALWAYS blame the fat guy with a mustache in the Chevy Aveo.
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@ManekiNeko: if this were an lolcat, i would have just gone with:
FAIL.
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I drive often through DC neighborhoods, and also walk in them too.
MD and VA drivers are definately the worst for pedestrian awareness. In addition to being lost, their incidence of cell phone talking/map looking/parking spot crawling/general befuddledment is off the charts. I often dream of a MD/VA free day in DC....please City Council, just do it!
However, DC pedestrians are generally arrogant a-holes who think the crosswalk has some sort of force field protecting them from all cars. I've seen people literally walk into moving (not accelerating from a stop) traffic on Connecticut Avenue. The screeching brakes sound was not a studio effect, and these fools are lucky to be alive.
I much prefer these scare tactics to the stupid "Pedestrians Have Right of Way" signs the District mounted in the middle of the road a couple of years ago. Those things were road hazards and boosted an already overinflated sense of pedestrian immorality.
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D'oh....pedestrian immortality (though immorality is alive and well on 18th street on weekends)
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D'oh....pedestrian immortality (though immorality is alive and well on 18th street on weekends)
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Coming soon to Metro platform plasma screens near you: "Faces of Death"!
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I believe They Might Be Giants could help MWCOG out?
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I am in between on these. I hate fear mongering, but I was run over by a car while crossing in a cross walk with the light. It's no joke and maybe people need to be reminded that when they cross paths on the street, they are a few inches away from something awful. This ad tries to do that without being "Faces of Death XXI".
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If they were concerned about accuracy, the driver should be a diplomat with a .18 blood-alcohol level, the vehicle a high-end BMW, and the pedestrian a streetperson who's screaming at either one of his multiple personalities or at what's left of his shoes.
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This ad sort of reminds me of those ridiculously scary Canadian PSAs where a woman slips and pours boiling oil on her face or a dude gets blown off of 10 story building by an exploding gas tank. Actually, compared to those, these traffic ads are as tame as My Little Ponies!
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I was a real fan of Interplay's PSAs from the mid 90's.
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goat boy you need these: http://faildogs.com/
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Monkeyrotica, this one is for you: Friends don't let friends drink Starbucks.
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Canada always gets the best PSAs.
I think we can safely conclude from this poster that high-speed vehicular intimacies are a pastime best reserved for the professionals, like Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee.
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So why not have more lights that stop all traffic like they do in Denver and Portland?
If the Mayor and the Council really want a green, pedestrian friendly city, they could get it.
Given the fiasco which is now Columbia Heights, I see the way, but no political will to address it.
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So why not have more lights that stop all traffic like they do in Denver and Portland?
If the Mayor and the Council really want a green, pedestrian friendly city, they could get it.
Given the fiasco which is now Columbia Heights, I see the way, but no political will to address it.
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I thought this was an ad for the new and improved Corolla telling me what I should do tonight
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Use crosswalks. Obey signals. Look left, right, left.
See, now had he looked right just one more time, he wouldn't be a coffee-wearin, rib-crackin hood ornament and we wouldn't be making fun of his mama for dressing him funny.
And she so fat, when she sits around the house, she sits AROUND the house. Mhm.
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Some people are asking for it,standing in the street. Boom!
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@guest number 10: awesome. thanks for the heads up. also a big fan of failblog.wordpress.com
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Some people are asking for it,standing in the street. Boom!
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"Use crosswalks and obey signals so you'll get hit by right-turning drivers -- it's safer!"
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Seriously...1st Street NE, anyone?
I think people see the part next to Union Station as a pedestrian mall, rather than a street with bike and car traffic. I almost hit a pedestrian (and nearly flew over the handlebars) when a woman with a bag-on-wheels stepped out 2 feet in front of my bike without looking up. She wasn't even talking on the phone - just an ipod and some quality tunnel vision. Truly impressive.
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And the other insane thing about this campaign is the teeny little tag-line:
--POLICE ARE ENFORCING SAFETY LAWS.
and, uh, no. They're not. But what a groovy idea. Just think of the possibilities.
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Can't stand seeing pedestrians J-walk without at least looking in the direction of the oncoming traffic.
Also, as a thought experiment: in the case of the poster, would parkour help? WWSFD? (What Would Sebastain Foucan Do?)
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Haha! This is going on my desktop. I've almost gotten hit by a VA driver wear an ORANGE dress. They must think they get a cash reward for running over brown people.
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Washington Dc has got to get some better safety ads than that, this place is dangerous.