In an effort to put the brakes on car crashes caused by teenagers who drive recklessly to look cool in front of their friends, the Advertising Council partnered with state Attorneys General and consumer protection agencies to launch a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs).The campaign aims to discourage reckless driving among teens and put an end to car accidents caused by their negligence.
"This PSA campaign has a real opportunity to reach teens around the country," said Thurbert Baker, Attorney General of Georgia. "By speaking up about reckless driving, young people can save lives, both their own and those of their friends."
The campaign was first launched in 2007 and addresses teens and young adults between the ages of 15 and 21 who are in the car with a reckless driver. The message of the campaign is clear: it aims to encourage them to speak up when they don't feel safe. In addition, the campaign also warns about the dangers and risks of reckless driving and is meant to educate teens who think speeding and not wearing a seat belt are cool.
Now the campaign will continue with new television, radio, outdoor and interactive elements that stay under the same theme "If your friend is driving recklessly, say something." Stars like comedians Rachel Harris, Fred Willard and Rob Riggle are featured in the TV spots, acting like teen passengers who "speak up" in a humorous manner to prevent a crash.
The campaign comes at a time when more an more teenagers are involved in fatal car crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 300,000 teens are harmed in car accidents every year. 8,000 of them are involved in fatal crashes and more than 3,500 lose their lives following these incidents. More importantly, statistics show that teens are more likely to cause fatal crashes than adults because they enjoy speeding and making illegal turns.
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