Mater Takes on Distracted Driving
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"Sometimes we all need a distraction...but never while driving," a voice says, as talking vehicles cover the screen.
A new spot, from the U.S. Department of Transportation, is part Cars 2 trailer, part PSA spot, and it aims to capture fans' attention while sending them an important message about driving distracted: That it puts you, your passengers, pedestrians, and others at risk.
Calling, texting, and other activities that could take away driver focus, the short video points out, with a voice arguing, "In our world, only bad guys drive distracted."
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As it's likely to be viewed by parents as well as kids (many of whom will be of driving age in just a few years), the message is kept short and to the point. But accompanying the spot is a companion site that highlights eye-opening facts about distraction—such as that 5,474 people were killed on U.S. roadways in 2009 (and nearly 450,000 injured) in crashes reported to involve distracted driving, or that a fifth of injury crashes involve reports of distracted driving.
The distracted driving ad was also highlighted in the FastLane blog, of U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood. According to LaHood, a rich partnership between Disney and the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) has grown from a campaign featuring the Fairy Godmother from Cinderella, in 2005, to safety spots related to A Christmas Carol, Enchanted, Wall-E, and the original Cars.
Disney has made versions of the whole ad/PSA, which you can view below, available in multiple languages, with international versions also offered at no cost. And the accompanying Web site reminds visitors with a road sign that "One text or call could wreck it all."
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Indeed, it could. Those who used hand-held cellphones and other devices while driving are four times more likely to be in a serious accident, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).