# Cardboard Children Sneaky Cut-Outs Trick Road Warriors into Safe Driving By Alex Covert | Published 2007-08-07 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/slowing-speeding-vehicles-cardboard-children References: [local6](http://www.local6.com/news/13775524/detail.html?treets=orlpn&tml=orlpn_7am&ts=T&tmi=orlpn_7am_1_06000207302007) & [25kids](http://25kids.com/) Realistic, life-size cardboard cut-outs of children are being used in a Northeastern Ohio neighborhood to slow down [speeding cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/project-yellow-lights-love-story). Mike Wood of West Salem, Ohio says he originally started printing life-size posters of grandchildren for their grandparents (odd…but I see the sentimental value). The darn things look so real, he found they also effectively slow traffic to a safe speed. Mr. Wood is now selling the fake children props for $60 a piece. People are stopping to buying these cardboard cut-outs of children and he is even getting calls from police stations and [neighborhood associations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/outdoor-advertising-campaign). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.6/10 - Popularity: 93% | Activity: 38% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Print](https://www.trendhunter.com/print) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Cardboard Cut-outs:** The trend of using cardboard cut-outs for road safety and other purposes. - **Realistic Props:** The trend of using realistic props to create an illusion of safety or other effects. - **Optical Illusions:** The trend of using optical illusions to alter perceptions or achieve specific outcomes. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Road Safety:** The industry of creating new forms of visual aids to increase road safety measures. - **Advertising and Marketing:** The industry of using realistic props as part of innovative marketing techniques. - **Entertainment:** The industry of using optical illusions for amusement parks, museums and other attractions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Kid-Friendly Power Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/supcutter.md) - [Traffic Light-Inspired Benches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/traffic-light-bench.md) - [Pedestrian-Detecting Crosswalks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-pedestrian-crosswalk.md) - [Halloween Safety Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glow-guards.md) - [Playfully Branded Crosswalks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oreo-walks.md) - [Robotic Baby Car Puppets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/iruyo-intelligent-puppet.md) - [Car Safety-Promoting PSAs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/never-happens-campaign.md) - [LED Stop Arm Extensions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/school-bus-safety.md) - [Cheeky Electric Vehicles Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/koda-hijacks-competitors.md)