Andy Simpson wrote:
> "Peter Cole" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
>
news:GBQDa.846433$OV.799549@rwcrnsc54...
>
>>"Harris" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
news:[email protected]...
>>
>>>Have you seen the latest TV ad for Camry? This guy is "driving" his new Camry like a maniac on
>>>somehow deserted freeways in an urban
>
> environment.
>
>>>He drives backwards, skids sideways, and weaves across three or more
>
> lanes
>
>>>in obvious ecstasy. The tag line is, "My car makes the road feel like my playground."
>>>
>>>Is this what sells cars? Incedible! I sure don't want to be around
>
> someone
>
>>>with an attitude like that when I'm out riding my bike.
>>
>>I think you raise an important issue. It used to be that car makers were
>
> very
>
>>circumspect with things like massively overpowered cars. They would always show the family man
>>using the 400 hp v-8 to safely merge (with wife & 2.2 kids) into a freeway with menacing semi's
>>bearing down. Then, they went
>
> into
>
>>the "closed track with professional driver", AKA "don't try this at home kids", shtick, where the
>>"professional" put the vehicle through its paces.
>
> In
>
>>recent years, the trend has been to wide-open, no-holds-barred, appeal to adrenaline, for kids,
>>moms & dads. The auto industry is shamelessly
>
> marketing
>
>>cars & trucks as (aggressive) toys. Driving is an X-game. This is nuts.
>
>
> Australia introduced a code banning car advertisements showing stupid driving last year (I think
> the UK may already have one) - see
http://www.bandt.com.au/articles/b5/0c0151b5.asp for an example
> & some detail. Now all we have to do is work on the existing stupid drivers.
>
> Andy
>
>
Quite right Andy. But prior to that we had 4WDs with "hearts" and "souls" and fast European sports
cars with "breeding".
The reality is we are discussing powered metal boxes which are sometimes useful, mostly expensive
and always dangerous. Until they are seen as such, and not as playthings, we are all at serious risk
each time we leave our houses.
Alan.