Neon Signs (Buzzed Driving)

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

One ad campaign by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was built around the statement that buzzed driving is drunk driving. If you use a search engine to explore the definition of “buzzed driving,” you will quickly see that there is disagreement as to whether that statement is true. Buzzed driving is usually understood to mean driving after having had a drink or two but not enough to make a person legally drunk. Unlike many public service ads that attempt to educate the public about the human cost of driving under the influence of alcohol — the cost in terms of loss of life or injury — this campaign focuses on the financial cost of driving drunk or impaired.

image
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ad Council

Reading and Discussion Questions

After examining “Neon Signs,” consider the questions below. Then enter your responses in the spaces provided and click the SUBMIT button.

Question 4.4

What is the setting for the signs? Why is that significant?

Question 4.5

1. What audience might the creators of the ad had in mind when they chose the approach they did? Why?

Question 4.6

2. How effective do you feel the ad is, compared to other approaches to the subject of driving while impaired that you have seen? Explain.

Question 4.7

3. How is sound used in the ad? Do you find it effective?