I’ve seen just about everything on the body of buses in the city — from make-up to deodorants to disposable diapers. So refreshing to see a public service announcement that actually makes sense and sends across a very important message.
At the back of this bus, the image of a man riding a bike. The man wears no helmet nor any other protective gear. The text of the ad — No helmet. No gloves. No pads. No jacket. No brains.
A closer look at the print on the man’s red T-shirt — We call them victims.
I find it very fitting that is ad runs right on the streets where there are too many bikers racing with speeding cars, trucks and buses. I find it even more apt that this ad is shown on the streets where too many families — husband, wife and as many as three young children — squeeze on a single bike. While bikes may be the answer of not-too-affluent families to the prohibitive cost of cars and fuel, the obvious hazards are too often ignored.
During the first few weeks of Noynoy Aquino’s administration, I’d often see on television footage of traffic cops apprehending bikers without helmets. Are they still doing it now that TV crews have moved elsewhere to cover more current news?
I’ve seen similar ads a couple of months ago, and those dealing with seat belts. Now I’m just waiting to see those proposed anti-smoking ads that show graphic pictures of what smoking can do to your health and body.
It’s clever because it implies one can literally lose their brain in the event on an accident.
“No brains” also means being an idiot.
This is modern advertising ladies and gentlemen. And Connie is clever enough to appreciate the clever word play very seldom employed by other advertisements.
I think this ad should win top prize for advertisement of the year. Or at the very least, be a finalist.
Whoever copy wrote this should be promoted to creative director down the line.
Copy writer, if you’re reading this, might I suggest the following catch phrases in your next safety-themed ad campaigns?
- Don’t wear a seat belt. Because it’s easier for a fireman to pry your lifeless body out of formerly-your-full-functioning-car-but-is-now-a-horrendous-carnage-of- twisted-metal-and-severed-body-parts-that-is-your-burning-mangled-car-in-a-10-car-pile-up.
- Smoking causes bad breath. Bad breath repels the opposite sex. But you don’t need the opposite sex anyway because smoking causes impotence.
- Doing drugs is like acquiring college education: a veritable few years of hedonistic fun followed by the painful withdrawal of eventually working a 9 to 5, so don’t try both.
- Drink moderately, if at all. If you do, do it once a week, but never before driving a car or operating machinery. It can be done to excess at other times, except on Good Friday and Ramadan.
that is what you call “only in the Philippines” those bikes with the whole family on it, I do understand that they are trying to save on their expenses but it will really be hard to change the mindset of the Filipinos, my cousin has a motorbike and I asked if did they buy insurance, the answer is a big “no”, for me that is a big no no, and really no commonsense, but it is a never ending battle, it takes time to explain to them why they need insurance, I’m using a lot of my precious time to give them the reasons behind it, I can only hope that they will listen.
I say we leave those who refuse to wear helmets be, and let natural selection sort it out. Honestly, we pinoys always have money for cigarettes, booze, and even cell phones, but not for decent headgear?
I’m wondering which it is — a macho thing or the nothing-can-touch-me attitude. You know, like, bad things happen to other people except me attitude.
I’d call it reckless stupidity, regardless of its name.
Jhay, warnins appear in every pack of cigarette.
Irn, actually, it’s not “only in the Philippines”. I’ve seen the same thing in Thailand and Taiwan. In Taiwan, they take the helmet thing more seriously though.
Triumvurate, re “Doing drugs is like acquiring college education” hehehe The way that the educational system does little except provide a continuing supply of labor for the industrial market, I appreciate the analogy very much.
at least they they take the helmet more seriously, about 3 yrs ago, a neighbor hitched a ride with my friends motorbike, they had an accident, the neighbor died since she is not wearing a helmet
That’s another thing — a lot of people think that the helmet rule applies only to the person driving the bike and not to the passengers. What the heck…
as I observed, the mindset in the Philippines is to always save money, im not sure of the term “nag-aarimuhunan” without thinking of the consequences, yes makakatipid na hindi bumili ng helmet pero hindi naiisip na makakasave iyon ng life nila
Well to be fair, getting a decent helmet will set you back 3-6k
all i can say is… i saw a man ‘flying’ in the air when i was in college. motorcycle hit by truck. he had a helmet on, but still, i think there were still major injuries. i turned away, i couldn’t bear to watch the landing. i don’t want to imagine what the scene would be had he not worn a helmet.