By DCist Contributor Joe Danielewicz

Street Smart, the same regional safety program that brought you 2008’s gruesome “dude getting smacked by a car and spilling coffee everywhere” ads, is once again employing shocking visuals in an effort to convince motorists, cyclists and pedestrians that driving even a little over the speed limit will cost lives this spring.

In a series of dramatic safety demonstrations in Montgomery County this afternoon, “Bobby,” a wire-framed dummy the size of a 10-year-old human, is trying to cross the street.

In the first example, a truck traveling at 25 mph (a normal residential speed limit) is able to brake in time to avoid hitting Bobby. A close call, but Bobby is able to walk away.

In the second example, the truck is traveling 35 mph, 10 mph over the speed limit. Bobby is struck hard by the truck and thrown down the street. He has injuries, probably serious ones.

In the third example, the driver is only traveling 5 more miles per hour, 40 mph. But the small speed increase is probably fatal for Bobby. He’s again thrown down the road, tumbling over before resting on his back. He’s seriously injured, possibly fatally.