Filed under: Apple Corporate, iPod Family
iPods outline "dead bodies" in ad campaign
We've seen clever iPod marketing from outside the US before, like this great campaign from South Africa. Today's ads come from the Sydney, Australia Police Department. Designed to encourage people to be aware of traffic while listening to their iPods, the ads depict users lying on the road, their eyes closed and an earbud wire partially outlining their bodies, Dragnet-style. The headline at the top of each image reads, "Watch for cars when wearing headphones." They certainly grab your attention.
We've posted before on legislative efforts to prevent 'walking while listening' -- a campaign like this might be more effective in the long run than law enforcement would be.
[Via creativebits]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tacticus said 11:14AM on 1-10-2008
Sydney, Australia Police Department does not exist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales_Police_Force would be the people making these ads
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Fred said 11:53AM on 1-10-2008
They exist in out hearts.
I figure she's laying there because she tripped on that long-ass cord.
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Jerid Hill said 11:54AM on 1-10-2008
Sorry guys, the reality is, there is no need for a law like this. The problem is not the responsibility of the government to stop people from doing stupid stuff, like walking into traffic without looking.
No matter how enthralled you are in your music, you always look at street crossings. Legislation isn't going to get to the root of the problem.... Teaching kids to act and think responsibly.
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General Grant said 12:26PM on 1-10-2008
Those ads are absurd! Listening to your iPod while crossing the street can't kill you... but chewing on your earbuds while crossing the street juggling lit dynamite just may do the trick. The Dental association iPhone ads are an even worse idea. http://www.iphonesavior.com/2008/01/dental-group-de.html
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Jon said 1:50PM on 1-10-2008
It seems like passing laws is the only thing governments know how to do today.
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General Grant said 2:21PM on 1-10-2008
The road safety iPod ads are a perfect example of what government should not be involved in. Where are the statistics to back up their hysteria?
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Samuel said 3:49PM on 1-10-2008
"We've seen clever iPod marketing from outside the US before" --wtf, open your eyes, have you never heard of European Cinema
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Mr.Clicky said 4:31PM on 1-10-2008
So NSW Plod are saying iPods kill you? Apple Legal, come on down!
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Mr.Clicky said 4:35PM on 1-10-2008
...and it's only a 3G model.
Now if they had a video iPod they could watch the TV version of the ad while crossing the road...
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rg said 5:57PM on 1-10-2008
I guess then it's also time to pass a law against walking and talking on your mobile phone. I see more people jaywalking mindlessly talking on their mobile phone than I do listening to an iPod. Besides, when people get hit and killed for doing stupid stuff like that it's called Thinning the Heard. It's all part of nature. The more stupid people we can eliminate the better.
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Lustigson said 2:36AM on 1-11-2008
Hear hear!
Burtonious said 8:12PM on 1-10-2008
Its not a law thats been passed guys - its simply an awareness campaign - there have been a few silly people hit in Sydney city while walking out onto the road without looking/thinking because they've been funking away to their favourite beats...
The campaing hits the spot - nothing wrong with it and its clever marketing...
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Fritz Laurel said 8:13PM on 1-10-2008
Man, my headphones cord is NEVER that untangled. I call BS.
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Kilian said 10:26PM on 1-10-2008
This is the first ad targeted ad Darwin Award nominees. I say if they're too stupid to look at the traffic when listening to music the best thing that can happen for us is them being hit by a 10 ton truck. That's called a solution!
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Beau said 5:54AM on 1-11-2008
You forgot to tag this post with Australia ;)
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Håkan said 5:57AM on 1-11-2008
Too bad the girl in the ads dont look anything like a traffic victim. If they had some pictures of a REAL traffic accident, I believe people would even stop walking on the streets completely ^_^.
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