Do you think it would be a good idea if short ads giving safe driving tips were to begin appearing on TV?

I doubt people would pay much attention.

I’ve been seeing lots of the “distracted driving” and the PSA’s about “Speak up if someone’s driving unsafely”

Maybe, but it would be annoying for me because I am an excellent driver.

@grumpyfish Well, no one would sit down with bated breath and watch a 15 or 30 second ad during the commercial break of their favorite show, just as they don’t focus on cleaning products advertisements….but with repetition it would slowly sink in.

@Val123 Good point =)

@erichw1504 Did you know that something like 80–90% of people think they are an above average driver?

I think it’s a great idea. Some of the well-done anti-smoking ads have seemed very effective. I think focusing on avoiding distractions, drunk driving, safe following distance and bad weather driving would be good places to start.

@grumpyfish I would bet that’s almost 100%. And of course, by definition, less than half the population are actually above average drivers. And above average doesn’t even mean excellent, since the average is pretty pathetic.

@Val123 I think such commercials are a great idea. I agree with @grumpyfish that they would not likely be terribly effective, but it’s worth a try. Now if the commercials were really well made you might stand a chance.

Unfortunately they’d be up against expensive, well produced car commercials that show horrible driving with a tiny disclaimer in small text telling you not to really drive that way.

@grumpyfish Did you know that I am an excellent driver?

I myself do not watch much TV in the first place, but of course I’m no stranger to driving and I do think it wouldn’t hurt to have such commercials. I am a driving enthusiast, so to speak and I pride myself on how well of a driver I am and have even been told to roll down my window by other motorists and complemented on my driving, lol no joke.

@grumpyfish I would have to agree with the precentage there even though I did say I was a good driver, but after living in Phoenix for 4 years, I’ve seen it all on the road, lol. I was also taught to drive by my Father on the road trip from Anchorage, AK to Asheville, NC in a F250 with a camper in the bed and an 8 foot trailer you couldn’t see in the mirrors. Yea it was quite scary at first, lol.

@grumpyfish Yeah, you ask anybody if they’re a good driver, they’ll always say “Yes.” But if you ask them if others tell them they’re a good driver, there is usually silence.

The thing about any advertising is that it doesn’t even have to be all that interesting, just repetitive. @Snarp And commercials influence more than we realized….much of it is subconscious.

Maybe all states should implement better, required driving classes that must be taken every 10 years or so.

@erichw1504 “Maybe all states should implement better, required driving classes that must be taken every 10 years or so.”

god I wish I could give you more lurve, haha. As an example, again from the great state of AZ my DL from there was issued 2004 guess the year it expires…

@Axemusica I gave ‘im one!

I think a good one would be, “Did you know that you are telegraphing your possible intentions to other drivers with your car? For example, when you come to a stop sign, stop completely. If you allow your car to inch forward, other drivers see the wheels turning and they assume you haven’t seen them and are ready to jump the stop sign. You may be simply a little impatient, however, most drivers tend to slow down in anticipation of you pulling out in front of them, so you actually lose time getting to your destination.”

I think a notification of laws would be better. For example, there are a whole lot of people who are ignorant of the legal thing to do at a stop sign when there are other cars there.

@avvooooooo haha, yea I remember that thread. Don’t remember where it went though.

edit: here it is

@Axemusica I just responded to it ,so it should be back in your activities….

@Val123 are we talking about the same thread? lol I don’t see it in my activities.

@Axemusica This one…? http://www.fluther.com/disc/44734/drivers-when-you-arrive-at-a-4-way-stop-intersection-at-the/

I think this is a great question, and yes, there should be more reminder ads…I’d like to help create them actually. Just got off phone with my editor with a small head of steam because he thinks people can drive and listen to a book on tape. I disagree, and I think I came up with a scenario where people will agree to agree with me: if you hired someone to drive your children to school, would it be okay if they were listening to a british mystery book on tape/cd? I don’t think so. And why not? Because the driver cannot possibly pay attention to everything they ought while trying to pay attention to details in an audio book. I may be very wrong, but that’s what I think. I currently live in the country where speeds are higher than in the city, people get “used to” the roads, animals all over the place. I think more ads with tips are very important.

Maybe we could insert some of these ads into the audio books.