I actually find television advertisements where they show the consequences of drinking and driving or traveling at speed to be rather unappealing. I can't speak for other countries but they used to be simply shock tactics. Someone has a night out, decide that well they should drink, the car crashes and then we see some of the consequences. Yeah it reminds you the first time you watch it. But I wonder if these have become so overdone that people really don't pay attention to them anymore. I'm pretty sure driving statistics are good overall here in New Zealand and they have been down for a number of years. But I sometimes wonder if they've reached their limit. Where, you're now stuck with the persistent ones, the people who are repeatedly warned or fined about their speed. The people that drive drunk and kill or seriously injure people and yet they continue to get their licenses back. I think its an issue. Advertisement and education can only do so much. Persistent and frequent repeaters simply need their license taken away.
Having a graphic and memorable message is a good deterent and way of educating people. Honestly, even I wouldn't know much about driving accidents or statistic if it wasn't for goverment advertising.
If you think that removing these ad's would somehow be a good thing, then I'd have to disagree with you, because it has likely prevented thousands of casualties.
Yes they educate those who are willing to change their ways or who will have a thought about their own driving. But often, these advertisements are repeatedly constantly that much of their potency is lost. Also it doesn't address those who are persistent speeders/drink drivers. These people need harsher penalties. I don't know about elsewhere. But here you can drink and drive and you get six months at that. And there have been a couple pieces in the news where persistent drink drivers have eventually injured or even killed someone. And there is also the major issue that many just ignore the fact that their licenses are suspended.
Also New Zealand has a lot driving age its just 15. I think thats perfectly fine. However, it takes just 6 months to get your restricted license (3 mths if you do a course). This means they can drive 6am-10/11 pm by themselves or with a person that is fully licensed. A full license can be reached after 18 months of being on your restricted (12 months if you take a course). Meaning someone who turns 15 can have their full in just One year and three months. Something that is probably too short. I don't think the age should increase. I do think it should be harder to get your restricted. And to get your restricted you should have to take mandatory lessons and a defensive driving course. Because this is really the dangerous level, as many drivers ignore the rules around a restricted license and just carry passengers anyway.
My partner had an incident where a car came up behind him. Didn't cause major damage but to fix it would have been a good 200 dollars or so. Of course my partner always too trusting of people accepted the cell phone number given, didn't think to check the number plates. And thus, had to fork out 200 dollars. Doesn't really relate that much to what you had to go through though.