Comm215
July 12, 2010
Drinking and Driving
Each year numerous lives are lost due to careless and irrational driving. The disregard for safe driving has been a predicament to the United States of America for years. Many years Police have relied heavily on speed cameras, breathalyzer tests and heavy fines as a deterrent against unlawful drivers. Over the years fatality rates have increased, so the Department of Transportation and Highway Safety has composed a series of safe driving campaigns. On many occasions the Transportation Department informs and advises the public about the importance of responsible driving. They propagate safe driving through the various channels of the media and non-profit organizations such as Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD). The mission of M.A.D.D. is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. Their safe driving campaign is now using effective propaganda aimed directly at speeding, drunk driving, fatigue and reckless driving.
Repetition is often used in the safe driving campaign in order to successfully convey their message and also to ensure, that the viewer retains their main idea. Fear is also often used in an effort to reach the viewer on an emotional level. Presently the Government and the Department of Transportation have worked in collaboration with one another to bring forth a message to the public about road safety. Since road fatalities have affected the United States of America so much that the advice has become propaganda in every sense of the term. There is one idea propagated repeatedly in an emotional manner with appropriate cartoons and even name-calling. Has the massive propaganda campaign set out by the Government and the Department of Transportation been effective in ensuring the safety of motorist throughout the country?
Philosophy is important when it comes to propaganda, mainly because propaganda primarily
References: Mothers against drunk driving. (n.d.) MADD: activism /victim services /education. Retrieved from http://www.madd.org