The wrong message? - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

Firedog · 04-30-2006, 09:46 PM

Has anyone else seen the car commercials (I think they're for VW) that have people driving along, talking and not paying attention to the road. They then have a collision (one is a t-bone, the other is running into a truck that's backing out of a blind driveway). In both, the aftermath of the collision has the people standing around, uninjured.

It just seems to me that they are sending the wrong message. In both of these commercials, the driver was talking and not paying attention to the road. It seems that they are saying that you can be as oblivious as you want if you're driving one of their cars, because you will be alright. Forget that you could kill someone else because you are distracted.

I'm sure that they aren't trying to send this message, but it's what I'm seeing.

I find that I'm becoming more and more paranoid about distracted drivers and the pains that they cause.

**Clint** · 04-30-2006, 09:58 PM

People will be distracted, no matter how much you tell them not to be. I think they're fantastic commercials, much like they have in Europe, and I think the messages sent are twofold:

1. Pay attention. Accidents are ugly and traumatizing.

2. Buy a VW. They help you walk away when you do something stupid.

I give VW full props for the ads, since they'll likely get some people to wake up. They are that shocking the first time you see them and several more. BTW, we have an '04 Passat.

dragbar · 04-30-2006, 10:04 PM

Those commercials can be taken the way you mentioned Firedog, but I lean toward RR's post. Their showing real life situations..just getting out of a show, talking about it. And in each instance they show how quick an accident can happen period. Personally I like the "Oh S)(*^" part..hehe.

tlwisner · 04-30-2006, 10:30 PM

A lady talking on a cellphone was hit by a train here last weekend. I doubt they'll make that commercial....

Rockhead · 04-30-2006, 10:33 PM

There's a post on this site where this guy pulls into traffic and t-bones a bike. (It made me sick to my stomach) I don’t know what effect the commercials have on daily commuters, but they sure as heck gave me shiver.

IV was in two accidents where you saw the collision and then everything thing after that split second goes black. For what you thought was a second was actually minutes with people grabbing and pulling at you.

These commercial’s to me look like “hey drive our car and you'll be safe”, but to me it just scares the piss out of me.

Firedog · 04-30-2006, 10:37 PM

I guess that I'm just in a pessimist mood lately. While I see your point of view, Rowdy, I still think that a better message is, "Stop being distracted and avoid the accident to begin with!" True, people probably won't pay attention (since they aren't paying attention to the road), but morally, it's the right thing to do.

dragbar · 04-30-2006, 11:32 PM

I don't really disagree with the gist of your statement Fire, but at the same time I know how many times I've taken my eye off the road to fiddle with the radio. Or a 3 year old in the back seat throwing a fit cause he dropped his cuppy and all the other day to day crap we put up with.

In a perfect world we know we want people to pay attention (especially us bikers want that), but VW is saying..look even when your not paying attention, we are.

chrisan · 05-01-2006, 01:12 AM

there is something in driving cars that makes you relaxed and some times not paing attention. I mean driving my car is so easy comapring it to my bike that I feel that I can sleep and drive. I think it is inevetable, people driving cars are going to be distracted, lazy, putting make up, shaving, reading and all the stuff we see everyday because it is that easy. And the commercials are actually chilling, they make you wake up at least for a while. Regarding us -bikers- I know for myself NOT TO RELY ON SOMEONE ELSE FOR MY SAFETY, especialy someone in a Linkoln Navigator.

**inspiron** · 05-01-2006, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlwisner

A lady talking on a cellphone was hit by a train here last weekend. I doubt they'll make that commercial....

You don't even need a car for that. Miss Deaf Germany was walking along a railroad track typing a text message into her telephone. She was so focused on the text message that she didn't look around or feel the vibrations of the train coming from behind her. It was the last thing she ever did.

**Louis** · 05-01-2006, 07:19 AM

What we need is the commercial on the Awareness blog entry on here that I wrote.

Fishpart · 05-01-2006, 07:40 AM

I agree wrong message, pay attention As_Holes!

MagnumForce · 05-01-2006, 07:54 AM

I haven't seen the commercials, so I can't comment on them. Some drivers, though, need a wake up call and I'll be more than happy to smack them upside their heads!

Regarding tlwisner's and inspiron's posts, I hate to sound cold, but...

cell phones = Darwin's revenge.

If they only took a moment of their time to exercise situational awareness, such events wouldn't have happened.

Firedog · 05-01-2006, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EZridr1

cell phones = Darwin's revenge.

I like that!

ApS · 05-01-2006, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firedog

Has anyone else seen the car commercials (I think they're for VW) that have people driving along, talking and not paying attention to the road. They then have a collision (one is a t-bone, the other is running into a truck that's backing out of a blind driveway). In both, the aftermath of the collision has the people standing around, uninjured.

It just seems to me that they are sending the wrong message. In both of these commercials, the driver was talking and not paying attention to the road. It seems that they are saying that you can be as oblivious as you want if you're driving one of their cars, because you will be alright. Forget that you could kill someone else because you are distracted.

I'm sure that they aren't trying to send this message, but it's what I'm seeing.

I find that I'm becoming more and more paranoid about distracted drivers and the pains that they cause.

well if it helps, I noticed that they were going to hit the pickup backing out the first time I saw that commercial.

**Clint** · 05-01-2006, 04:13 PM

I don't think it was supposed to be a surprise. The impact is what's shocking.

dragbar · 05-01-2006, 04:21 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/200...NlYwN5bmNhdA--

**drgibson** · 05-01-2006, 04:24 PM

Well they are defiantly based on reality. How many of us here when a car with someone else doesn’t talk to them? If you watch the driver you will see that they are looking at the road and when the wreck happens it is at the moment when the driver has looked away, which we all do even if there isn’t someone else in the car. The crashes are real, staged but real none the less. I don’t see them as glorifying anything about the driver’s inattention or lack of consequences. The focus is on the safety of the car.

Firedog · 05-01-2006, 05:51 PM

<hyphothetical time>
If we are quick to call someone a squid for being reckless and stupid behind the bars of a bike, shouldn't we do the same (or similar) to someone being reckless and stupid behind the wheel of a car?
</hypothetical time>

Not paying attention while driving a car is dangerous and stupid. I don't care how good of a driver you are. Think about it this way. When (if) you took Driver's Ed, did they show you how to drive with one hand so that you can change the radio station with another? Or drive with no hands, but rather with a knee while you shave/put on make-up/eat breakfast/slap the kids in the backseat? No (at least, mine didn't), because that would not be showing you how to be a safe driver. My wife will get p***ed at you if you take your eyes of the road for more than a split second (about the time it takes to blink) - just ask her friends. That's why she has no problem with me when I don't look at her while I'm driving.

This is just a topic that hits home with me. I've seen far too many people hurt or killed in vehicle crashes because someone wasn't paying attention, was being reckless or just plain stupid. I don't want to see that anymore. I especially don't want anyone that I care about being hurt or killed due to someone's stupidity.

Ok, I'll stop ranting now and return you to your normal programming.

MagnumForce · 05-01-2006, 06:13 PM

You're right Firedog. We should not lower our expectations of certain vehicle operators because they choose to drive a car instead of ride a motorcycle. Remember when you took the driver's test and the DMV examiner sat on the passenger seat? Did you scarf on fast food, talk on the cell phone, put on make up, smoke a cigarette, fiddle around with the radio stations, shave, etc. while taking the driver's test? I would bet my left one that the answer to that question would be a resounding NO! You were on your P's and Q's, weren't you? That's because you wanted to pass that test and get your driver's license. Too bad that's probably the only time that most drivers were on their best behavior.

There, rant over!

sundude · 05-01-2006, 08:28 PM

I think that there is an underlying message in all this.

We all suffer the "too many distractions syndrome" when behind the steering wheel. What with cell phones, radios, navigation systems, a/c, etc.

Just remember the temptation of staring at the scenery when your on 2 wheels, whether it's that ride through the mountains or a ride along bikini beach. That commercial could just as easily be you.

Trust me, been there, done that and stiill have the bruises from 3 1/2 months ago.

Be careful out there...

04-30-2006, 09:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Firedog Foil Inspector Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe Location: West Lafayette, IN Posts: 971	The wrong message? Has anyone else seen the car commercials (I think they're for VW) that have people driving along, talking and not paying attention to the road. They then have a collision (one is a t-bone, the other is running into a truck that's backing out of a blind driveway). In both, the aftermath of the collision has the people standing around, uninjured. It just seems to me that they are sending the wrong message. In both of these commercials, the driver was talking and not paying attention to the road. It seems that they are saying that you can be as oblivious as you want if you're driving one of their cars, because you will be alright. Forget that you could kill someone else because you are distracted. I'm sure that they aren't trying to send this message, but it's what I'm seeing. I find that I'm becoming more and more paranoid about distracted drivers and the pains that they cause. __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." -Abraham Lincoln

04-30-2006, 10:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
dragbar Fifth gear streak Joined: May 2005 Bike: M50 Location: SE Missouri Posts: 1,375	Those commercials can be taken the way you mentioned Firedog, but I lean toward RR's post. Their showing real life situations..just getting out of a show, talking about it. And in each instance they show how quick an accident can happen period. Personally I like the "Oh S)(^" part..hehe. __________________ I ate Chinese last night..........should of seen her struggle when i put her in the van. Доверя́й, но проверя́й.*

04-30-2006, 10:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
tlwisner Throttle Jockey Joined: Apr 2004 Bike: '05 Boulevard C50 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 3,208	A lady talking on a cellphone was hit by a train here last weekend. I doubt they'll make that commercial.... __________________ Tim Wisner AMA, SCRC Happiness is something we create

04-30-2006, 10:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Firedog Foil Inspector Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe Location: West Lafayette, IN Posts: 971	I guess that I'm just in a pessimist mood lately. While I see your point of view, Rowdy, I still think that a better message is, "Stop being distracted and avoid the accident to begin with!" True, people probably won't pay attention (since they aren't paying attention to the road), but morally, it's the right thing to do. __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." -Abraham Lincoln

04-30-2006, 11:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
dragbar Fifth gear streak Joined: May 2005 Bike: M50 Location: SE Missouri Posts: 1,375	I don't really disagree with the gist of your statement Fire, but at the same time I know how many times I've taken my eye off the road to fiddle with the radio. Or a 3 year old in the back seat throwing a fit cause he dropped his cuppy and all the other day to day crap we put up with. In a perfect world we know we want people to pay attention (especially us bikers want that), but VW is saying..look even when your not paying attention, we are. __________________ I ate Chinese last night..........should of seen her struggle when i put her in the van. Доверя́й, но проверя́й.

04-30-2006, 10:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
Rockhead M-J.Com Master Poster Joined: Jan 2006 Bike: M50 Location: 1060 West Addison, Chicago Posts: 3,767	There's a post on this site where this guy pulls into traffic and t-bones a bike. (It made me sick to my stomach) I don’t know what effect the commercials have on daily commuters, but they sure as heck gave me shiver. IV was in two accidents where you saw the collision and then everything thing after that split second goes black. For what you thought was a second was actually minutes with people grabbing and pulling at you. These commercial’s to me look like “hey drive our car and you'll be safe”, but to me it just scares the piss out of me.

05-01-2006, 01:12 AM	#8 (permalink)
chrisan Found second gear by accident Joined: Aug 2004 Bike: suzuki bandit 400/ gsxr 600 k4/ gsxr 750 k7 Location: L.A. Posts: 340	there is something in driving cars that makes you relaxed and some times not paing attention. I mean driving my car is so easy comapring it to my bike that I feel that I can sleep and drive. I think it is inevetable, people driving cars are going to be distracted, lazy, putting make up, shaving, reading and all the stuff we see everyday because it is that easy. And the commercials are actually chilling, they make you wake up at least for a while. Regarding us -bikers- I know for myself NOT TO RELY ON SOMEONE ELSE FOR MY SAFETY, especialy someone in a Linkoln Navigator. __________________ gsxr 600 k4 yellow gsxr 750 k7 silver

05-01-2006, 07:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,657	What we need is the commercial on the Awareness blog entry on here that I wrote. __________________ Louis

05-01-2006, 07:40 AM	#11 (permalink)
Fishpart Fourth gear and illegal Joined: Apr 2005 Bike: 2007 Harley Davidson Electa Glide Location: York, Pa Posts: 783	I agree wrong message, pay attention As_Holes!

05-01-2006, 07:54 AM	#12 (permalink)
MagnumForce Throttle Jockey Joined: May 2005 Bike: 05 M50, 06 CBR600F4i Location: Sitting on the can... duh! Posts: 3,160	I haven't seen the commercials, so I can't comment on them. Some drivers, though, need a wake up call and I'll be more than happy to smack them upside their heads! Regarding tlwisner's and inspiron's posts, I hate to sound cold, but... cell phones = Darwin's revenge. If they only took a moment of their time to exercise situational awareness, such events wouldn't have happened. __________________ "I love the smell of toner in the morning… it's the smell of victory!" MAJ M, Staff Officer

05-01-2006, 04:21 PM	#16 (permalink)
dragbar Fifth gear streak Joined: May 2005 Bike: M50 Location: SE Missouri Posts: 1,375	http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/200...NlYwN5bmNhdA-- __________________ I ate Chinese last night..........should of seen her struggle when i put her in the van. Доверя́й, но проверя́й.

05-01-2006, 04:24 PM	#17 (permalink)
drgibson Antebellum Mod Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 Location: Dallas, Texas Directly above the center of the earth. Posts: 10,742	Well they are defiantly based on reality. How many of us here when a car with someone else doesn’t talk to them? If you watch the driver you will see that they are looking at the road and when the wreck happens it is at the moment when the driver has looked away, which we all do even if there isn’t someone else in the car. The crashes are real, staged but real none the less. I don’t see them as glorifying anything about the driver’s inattention or lack of consequences. The focus is on the safety of the car. __________________ “Please Remember to Kazoo Responsibly.”

05-01-2006, 05:51 PM	#18 (permalink)
Firedog Foil Inspector Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe Location: West Lafayette, IN Posts: 971	<hyphothetical time> If we are quick to call someone a squid for being reckless and stupid behind the bars of a bike, shouldn't we do the same (or similar) to someone being reckless and stupid behind the wheel of a car? </hypothetical time> Not paying attention while driving a car is dangerous and stupid. I don't care how good of a driver you are. Think about it this way. When (if) you took Driver's Ed, did they show you how to drive with one hand so that you can change the radio station with another? Or drive with no hands, but rather with a knee while you shave/put on make-up/eat breakfast/slap the kids in the backseat? No (at least, mine didn't), because that would not be showing you how to be a safe driver. My wife will get p***ed at you if you take your eyes of the road for more than a split second (about the time it takes to blink) - just ask her friends. That's why she has no problem with me when I don't look at her while I'm driving. This is just a topic that hits home with me. I've seen far too many people hurt or killed in vehicle crashes because someone wasn't paying attention, was being reckless or just plain stupid. I don't want to see that anymore. I especially don't want anyone that I care about being hurt or killed due to someone's stupidity. Ok, I'll stop ranting now and return you to your normal programming. __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." -Abraham Lincoln

05-01-2006, 06:13 PM	#19 (permalink)
MagnumForce Throttle Jockey Joined: May 2005 Bike: 05 M50, 06 CBR600F4i Location: Sitting on the can... duh! Posts: 3,160	You're right Firedog. We should not lower our expectations of certain vehicle operators because they choose to drive a car instead of ride a motorcycle. Remember when you took the driver's test and the DMV examiner sat on the passenger seat? Did you scarf on fast food, talk on the cell phone, put on make up, smoke a cigarette, fiddle around with the radio stations, shave, etc. while taking the driver's test? I would bet my left one that the answer to that question would be a resounding NO! You were on your P's and Q's, weren't you? That's because you wanted to pass that test and get your driver's license. Too bad that's probably the only time that most drivers were on their best behavior. There, rant over! __________________ "I love the smell of toner in the morning… it's the smell of victory!" MAJ M, Staff Officer

05-01-2006, 08:28 PM	#20 (permalink)
sundude Puddle Runner Joined: May 2005 Bike: Suzuki M50 Location: South Florida Posts: 378	I think that there is an underlying message in all this. We all suffer the "too many distractions syndrome" when behind the steering wheel. What with cell phones, radios, navigation systems, a/c, etc. Just remember the temptation of staring at the scenery when your on 2 wheels, whether it's that ride through the mountains or a ride along bikini beach. That commercial could just as easily be you. Trust me, been there, done that and stiill have the bruises from 3 1/2 months ago. Be careful out there...

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