Car ads depicting "unsafe" driving banned in Canada

[MetroMPG]

Via the Globe and Mail...

Canada's advertising industry's self-regulating body has decreed that ads showing reckless driving are not acceptable.


(from an Audi A6 ad)

The Guideline was developed to help ensure that motor vehicle advertisements are created to comply with the spirit of Canadian road safety laws. - source

The body's goal was to...

... establish guidelines aimed at prohibiting any advertisement that portrays a road vehicle and conveys a careless attitude with respect to road safety by presenting situations that encourage reckless, dangerous or prohibited practices or behaviour.

Part of the actual guideline:

4.1 When evaluating complaints about advertising involving depictions of motorized vehicles that allegedly contravene Clause 10 (Safety), Council will take into account the following questions:

1. Does the depiction of the performance, power or acceleration of the vehicle convey the impression that it is acceptable to exceed speed limits?
2. Does the depiction of a vehicle’s handling ability involve potentially unsafe actions such as cutting in and out of traffic, excessively aggressive driving, or car chases in a residential setting?
3. Does the depiction appear realistic or does it appear to be unreal, as in a fantasy-like scenario that is unlikely to be copied or emulated in real life?
4. Would it be reasonable to interpret the depicted situation as condoning or encouraging unsafe driving practices?

more...

[dcb]

wow, advertisers exercising self control, I feel a little dizzy, gotta sit...

[Old Tele man]

...how about applying the SAME "governance" to political entities????

[Frank Lee]

Whatta buncha candy***es!

I know many have trouble differentiating between fiction and reality, but come on!

I remember back in the day, when Ford began importing their big European performance car, the XR4Ti. I got hold of a promo tape... and darn near fell asleep watching it.

Here's this car where they brag about the Euro suspension, power, prowess, etc., etc., plodding around neighborhood streets at 5 mph. Whoa- color me impressed!

I wrote back to them and ripped 'em a new one. I swear these marketing guys are dumber than stumps.

[Doofus McFancypants]

16 yr old in his daddy's BMW talking to cop
kid - "What is the problem officer?"
cop - "You ran a red light back at the intersection..."
Kid - cutting him off- " well sir this IS a BMW - didn't you see the commercial?"

so let me summerize...

Heavy Metal Music will cause me to kill my dog
Rap Music will cause me to shoot up a Liquor Store
GTA3 will cause me to beat up hookers and steal thier $
and Car Commercials will cause me to drive carelessly.

[MetroMPG]

One reason I found this story interesting is because it made me wonder if they'll also target greenwashing in auto ads.

Can't stand ads that hawk "clean" diesels, "sustainable zoom-zoom", or "zero emission" electrics or hydrogen vehicles. Each of those qualifiers requires a sizeable * asterisk to explain what they mean. None can stand on their own, but they're always put out there without qualification.

They cracked down on auto greenwashing in Norway, where

restrictions imposed by the state-run Consumer Ombudsman have banned the use of the words “green,” clean,” and “environmentally friendly” in car advertisements.

Source: In Norway, No Car Is “Green” — Carectomy - Removing Cars from People

[jkp1187]

They are, in fact, rather cravenly doing what their political masters have "asked":

"The new measures were sparked by legislation in Quebec banning such ads..."

I am not in favor of reckless driving, but I do not see any reason to trash the right of freedom of speech to obtain a little extra safety on the roadways.

[dcb]

Quebec doesn't rule Canada, read on:

"..., and a growing number of complaints across the country from consumers who believe such advertisements act as inducements to poor behaviour on the roads."

[tasdrouille]

Originally Posted by dcb

Quebec doesn't rule Canada[...]

Unfortunately...

Originally Posted by jkp1187

[...]I am not in favor of reckless driving, but I do not see any reason to trash the right of freedom of speech to obtain a little extra safety on the roadways.

Here, I'd say most people do not have the same relation with "freedom" some people in the states seem to have. In fact I'd say that from most of the rights the Framers gave you. We feel we have all the rights we need to the extend we accept as a society, and we make individual sacrifices for the greater good of the society.

But anyway, I think the ban on those ads is a good thing.

[jkp1187]

Originally Posted by dcb

Quebec doesn't rule Canada, read on:

"..., and a growing number of complaints across the country from consumers who believe such advertisements act as inducements to poor behaviour on the roads."

Keep reading:

"'Governments, both federal and provincial, have identified speed as an issue, and safety concerns in advertising,' noted David Adams, president of the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada, which represents importers."

The point that this decision is being taken in response to actual and implicit threats of government action stands.