It seems the large number of casualties caused by pedestrians listening to music on headphones while crossing streets and not paying attention to the traffic has caused Australian police to launch an eerie awareness campaign.
Listening to your music, it's nearly impossible to hear cars coming, sirens screeching or warning shouts from others.
"A print campaign by NSW Police in Australia to raise awareness of the number of teenagers dying as a result of listening to iPods while they cross the road is beginning to reach epidemic proportions. Who knew!"
Implications - Ad agencies that take a more harsh approach to communicating a strong message are sure to gain the attention they seek.
Campaign Warns of iPod Dangers
iDead in Australia
Trend Themes
1. Technological Awareness Campaigns - The success of the iPod dangers campaign in Australia demonstrates a trend towards using campaigns to raise awareness about the negative impacts of technology.
2. Pedestrian Safety Innovations - The increasing number of accidents caused by distracted pedestrians listening to music highlights a trend towards developing innovative solutions to promote pedestrian safety.
3. Audio Technology Regulations - The dangers associated with listening to music while crossing streets may lead to the implementation of regulations regarding the volume and usage of audio technology in public spaces.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising and Marketing - The harsh approach used in the iPod dangers campaign presents an opportunity for ad agencies to create impactful campaigns that raise awareness about societal issues.
2. Safety and Security - The increasing incidents of accidents caused by distracted pedestrians listening to music create a market opportunity for companies to develop innovative safety solutions and technologies.
3. Consumer Electronics - The potential regulations on audio technology usage may impact the consumer electronics industry, leading to the development of safer and more socially responsible products.