With the number of car crash-related deaths on the rise, auto companies may have to reconsider their use of stunt driving and high-speed car chases in television commercials.
Recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have revealed a dramatic increase in traffic fatalities between 2015 and 2017, with an estimated 37,133 deaths for the 2017 reporting period, the highest number since 2007. Of those, 79 percent were passenger car occupants, indicating that there is a particular need to address the safety of such drivers.
In a bid to improve safety standards, some companies have begun cutting back on the use of stunt driving in their advertising material. Automobile manufacturer Volkswagen, for example, decided to remove a commercial featuring a high-speed chase scene from its YouTube channel in 2017.
At the same time, companies such as Nissan, Ford, and Toyota are taking steps to ensure that their commercials accurately depict safe driving practices. Advertisements from these corporations now feature drivers buckling up their seatbelts, using turn signals, and avoiding distractions like cell phone use.
It is clear that the rise in traffic fatalities has prompted companies to take a more responsible approach to promoting their vehicles. By keeping stunts to a minimum and emphasizing safety in their commercials, automakers will be taking an important step towards reducing the number of lives lost on the roads.
Ultimately, the responsibility lies with drivers to remain vigilant and to follow safe driving practices. But with auto companies working to promote these values in their advertising material, the likelihood of fatal car crashes will hopefully be reduced in the future.
