Public service announcements can help reduce distracted driving incidents by educating people on the dangers. Any activity while driving, such as texting, eating, or adjusting the radio is a distraction. In 2012, over 3,000 people were killed and over 400,000 injured in crashes involving distracted drivers, a nine percent increase from 2011. While some critics argue PSAs may not reach all audiences or change behaviors, images in PSAs can be powerful and studies show campaigns have effectively changed unsafe driving habits when they promote strong anti-distracted driving messages that people can relate to.

1. Public Service
Announcements
Save Lives
By
Sahir Rafay
English III

2. The Distracted Driving Case
Any activity while driving is a distraction!

3. The Distracted Driving Case
Any activity while driving is a distraction!
• Texting
• Using a cell phone or smartphone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Using a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3
player
Distraction.gov

4. The Distracted Driving Case
The Facts!
The number of people killed in
distraction-affected crashes …was
3,328 in 2012. An estimated
421,000 people were injured in
motor vehicle crashes involving a
distracted driver, this was a nine
percent increase from the
estimated 387,000 people injured
in 2011.
Distraction.gov

5. The Distracted Driving Case
The Facts!
government-fleet.com

6. Public Service
Announcements
Save lives
Educate on the dangers on distracted driving
Help people relate
Are affective
“At any given daylight moment across America,
approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell
phones or manipulating electronic devices
while driving, a number that has held steady
since 2010”
Distraction.gov

7. What About the Critics?
Ads do not reach everyone
Viewers of PSAs say “That’s not me”
Ads may not be effective

8. But IMAGES are POWERFUL

9. Public Service Announcements
DO Work

10. Public Service
Announcements
DO Work
According to the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA), “strong
public education campaigns can—and do—
change unsafe driving behaviors."
EMS World

11. Even if they
save just one
life!
Public Service Announcements Help
Reduce Distracted Driving Incidents

12. References
Clifford, Stephanie. "Some Doubts About Scare Tactics on Drivers Who Text."
The New York Times. The New York Times, 31 Aug. 2009. Web. 24 July 2014.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/technology/01distracted.html?_r=0
"DOT Runs First-Ever National Campaign Against Distracted Driving."
EMSWorld.com. N.p., 16 Apr. 2014. Web. 18 July 2014.
http://www.emsworld.com/article/11410637/dot-runs-first-ever-national-
campaign-against-distracted-driving
"Faces of Distracted Driving: Get the Message PSA." YouTube. YouTube, n.d.
Web. 24 July 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjmlv1rbGKE
"Distracted Driving | Facts and Stats | Texting and Driving." Distracted Driving |
Facts and Stats | Texting and Driving. Distraction.GOV, n.d. Web. 14 July 2014.
http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-the-facts/facts-and-statistics.html