Does advertising get through to us?

Continuing on from the previous post, I spoke to some young drivers and their thoughts on dangerous driving, particularly texting whilst driving.

A.R – female, 19, Sydney

‘I will occasionally read a text message whilst I am driving, but I will never write a message unless I am at a set of lights or stationary, it is extremely distracting and I think it is of huge concern on our roads’ says A.R.

Even this is breaking current NSW law which states that is illegal to drive any vehicle whilst using a hand-held mobile. This includes sending and receiving messages, taking photographs and talking, either whilst driving or stopped at a set of lights.

Of some encouragement to the NSW government, A.R claims ‘every time I hear my mobile ring whilst I am driving, images of the advertisement where a young child is hit as a result of someone reading a message run through my mind’.

A.R suggests that whilst she is aware of the distractions whilst driving, not all of her friends realise the implications of their actions whilst behind the wheel and believes they do not understand how distractions can have disastrous consequences. Perhaps more worryingly, they do not appreciate what constitutes illegal activity when they are behind the wheel of their vehicles.

N.K, male, 23, Sydney

N.K, states that although he rarely text messages whilst driving, it easy to do so with subtlety and therefore believes it is more likely to go unnoticed by the police and easier to get away with. Klujin also says that he does not notice that some is illegally texting whilst driving, until they behave erratically, then when glancing at the driver he notices they are texting or engaging in some other activity which distracts them from their driving.

Although A.R. and N.K. express an understanding of the dangers of driving distracted, a more thorough and dynamic examination of the understanding of drivers is needed to really engage with them and tackle the dangers currently posed on our roads.

Further studies would perhaps help the government to hone their advertising to relate to youngsters. Jacqui Triffitt (previous post) believes many drivers are of the ‘it won’t happen to me’ mentality and remain unaffected by graphic images splashed across billboards and television screens. Suggesting that takes a first hand experience to shock drivers into amending their habits.