Charlie Says No More
February 10, 2013 12:33 PM Subscribe
Road safety adverts will no longer be shown on television in England because the Department for Transport has decided to "re-prioritise" its budget.
Commenting on the cutting of TV adverts, road safety Minister Stephen Hammond said: "Road deaths are at a record low but we know that one death is one too many.
So after the bad news, enjoy this small collection of British 1970's PSAs, containing Kevin Keegan, Darth Vader, Derek Griffiths, Charlie, and, er, Jimmy Saville.
So after the bad news, enjoy this small collection of British 1970's PSAs, containing Kevin Keegan, Darth Vader, Derek Griffiths, Charlie, and, er, Jimmy Saville.
I was going to question if these things work, but then I realized that "Cross at the green, not in between" is permanently embedded in my subconscious thanks to a PSA.
posted by madajb at 12:49 PM on February 10, 2013
posted by madajb at 12:49 PM on February 10, 2013
I've never actually seen a road safety advert on tv here, now that I think about it. Were they run often?
posted by atrazine at 12:49 PM on February 10, 2013
posted by atrazine at 12:49 PM on February 10, 2013
Drivers' rights are England's version of gun rights.
posted by srboisvert at 12:56 PM on February 10, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 12:56 PM on February 10, 2013 [4 favorites]
I was going to question if these things work, but then I realized that "Cross at the green, not in between" is permanently embedded in my subconscious thanks to a PSA.
I'm terrified of rugs.
posted by Artw at 12:57 PM on February 10, 2013
I'm terrified of rugs.
posted by Artw at 12:57 PM on February 10, 2013
Drivers' rights are England's version of gun rights.
That would make fuel tax protests the equivalent of NRA freakouts, which is about right.
posted by Artw at 1:08 PM on February 10, 2013
That would make fuel tax protests the equivalent of NRA freakouts, which is about right.
posted by Artw at 1:08 PM on February 10, 2013
I suppose it makes sense, given that children's television is nowadays much more dispersed through the schedules than it used to be, so adverts will have less impact on viewers while the development costs are the same.
I would be interested to know what the typical causes of the c. 60 child road deaths per year in Britain are. Perhaps it just isn't a particularly effective strategy to advertise to the potential victims of road deaths, rather than those who might perpetrate them.
Drivers' rights are England's version of gun rights.
But thankfully the UK has one of the lowest rates of road deaths in the world, so the similarity with the US gun lobby is minimal.
posted by Bare Ruined Choirs at 1:20 PM on February 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
I would be interested to know what the typical causes of the c. 60 child road deaths per year in Britain are. Perhaps it just isn't a particularly effective strategy to advertise to the potential victims of road deaths, rather than those who might perpetrate them.
Drivers' rights are England's version of gun rights.
But thankfully the UK has one of the lowest rates of road deaths in the world, so the similarity with the US gun lobby is minimal.
posted by Bare Ruined Choirs at 1:20 PM on February 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think Jehan is right, marienbad - I'd love to see some of those ads.
I was trying to remember Derek Griffith's name the other day, oddly enough - thanks for the reminder, Heads and Tails and Film Fun were favourites as a kid. Was amazed to find out he composed the various themes in Bod as well. You can hear him on the main theme quite distinctly.
posted by davemee at 1:53 PM on February 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
I was trying to remember Derek Griffith's name the other day, oddly enough - thanks for the reminder, Heads and Tails and Film Fun were favourites as a kid. Was amazed to find out he composed the various themes in Bod as well. You can hear him on the main theme quite distinctly.
posted by davemee at 1:53 PM on February 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
" ... because I won't be there when you cross the road."
Charley says... "Don't Talk To Strangers"
Clunk Click
posted by scruss at 2:06 PM on February 10, 2013
Charley says... "Don't Talk To Strangers"
Clunk Click
posted by scruss at 2:06 PM on February 10, 2013
I would be interested to know what the typical causes of the c. 60 child road deaths per year in Britain are. Perhaps it just isn't a particularly effective strategy to advertise to the potential victims of road deaths, rather than those who might perpetrate them.
The Guardian on why road deaths are on the rise. The DfT has lots of statistics: looking in the 2011 data, 33 of the children who died were pedestrians, 6 were cyclists, and 21 were car passengers. The official 2012 statistics don't appear to be available yet, but at least 12 children were killed while cycling in 2012.
posted by penguinliz at 4:02 PM on February 10, 2013
The Guardian on why road deaths are on the rise. The DfT has lots of statistics: looking in the 2011 data, 33 of the children who died were pedestrians, 6 were cyclists, and 21 were car passengers. The official 2012 statistics don't appear to be available yet, but at least 12 children were killed while cycling in 2012.
posted by penguinliz at 4:02 PM on February 10, 2013
Complete guess: the recession has meant a decline in car use, which reduces congestion, which increases car speeds, which increases the chance of an impact being fatal.
posted by alasdair at 2:49 AM on February 11, 2013
posted by alasdair at 2:49 AM on February 11, 2013
No, only children's road safety ads are being axed. This isn't all of them - there are a lot about speeding, watching out for motorcyclists, and drink driving, for example. Northern Ireland in particular has very hard-hitting ads. I can't find the scariest one but there's a few on YouTube.
Drivers' rights are England's version of gun rights.
Not really - there are far fewer drivers per capita here, especially in cities with better public transport - London being an obvious example.
posted by mippy at 6:15 AM on February 11, 2013
Drivers' rights are England's version of gun rights.
Not really - there are far fewer drivers per capita here, especially in cities with better public transport - London being an obvious example.
posted by mippy at 6:15 AM on February 11, 2013
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posted by Artw at 12:45 PM on February 10, 2013 [1 favorite]