Viewers have been left ‘shaking’ by a toe-curling campaign to encourage motorcycle riders to wear proper equipment on the road.
A new Transport Accident Commission motorcycle safety advert provoked strong reactions from viewers.
A graphic ad campaign that uses special effects to simulate traumatic injuries to motorcycle riders has left viewers “shaking” and “traumatised” while eliciting support from road users.
The video published by Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission shows the results of casual clothes that fail to protect riders adequately.
Public reactions to the campaign, which started last month, include “Jesus Christ Victoria”, “I’m shaking”, “y’all traumatised me” and “my toes curled up”.
The TAC advert shows a rider losing control before sliding down the road.
But Facebook users also welcomed the campaign’s message, responding with stories of how proper motorcycle gear protected them in a crash.
In one social media post, the TAC told followers that a casual hoodie protects riders for 0.03 seconds, “then, like a human crayon your flesh grates across the bitumen”.
Some people responded by saying the “very hard hitting advert” was on the right track, as they “learned this lesson the hard way”.
TAC research shows canvas sneakers quickly disintegrate during a crash.
“This ad should be shown to all riders before they a get a licence,” another said.
Others were put off by the video’s depiction of bloody injuries.
The TAC says “contusions, abrasions and lacerations are the second-most common type of injury sustained from on-road motorcycle crashes in Victoria, behind fractured limbs”.
“Over the last five years, on average there have been around 2,500 motorcyclist claims per year, equating to around $115 million annually in compensation and medical bills.”
The campaign makes for uncomfortable viewing as casual clothes are torn to shreds- it gets a lot worse than this.
Richard Williams, executive creative director at the agency responsible for the campaign, Clemenger BBDO, told AdNews the vision was not fanciful.
“This isn’t a dramatised version of what could happen,” he said.
“It’s the reality of a risk experienced riders take daily when they don’t protect their entire body on every ride.”
WARNING, GRAPHIC: Protect your body on every ride
Keyword: Graphic: Victorian ‘human crayon’ ad targets motorcycle riders