A freelance Calgary art director has launched a personal guerilla advertising campaign highlighting the dangers of driving while talking and texting on cell phones.
Jack Adamson set up 10 fake traffic accident memorials in high pedestrian traffic areas in the city’s downtown core.
Each “memorial” has flowers and a cell phone with a text message that reads: “Drivers who talk on cell phones R6 times more likely 2b involved in dangerous collisions, and 23 times more likely if tex…”
Adamson said he deliberately cut off the message to drive home what could happen to a texting driver.
The memorials are attached to signposts and face the sidewalk, explained Adamson, because “when I talked to police they didn’t want drivers distracted trying to read it.” Each memorial invites people to give their opinion on the problem at a Facebook page.
Adamson, who started the campaign last Friday, said he had 60 hits on the site by Monday.
Although he has never been involved in an accident while on his cell phone, Adamson said he has seen others who have had close calls.
“This cause is very important to me, and I hope this opens up the conversation without being preachy,” said Adamson, who will soon be planning round two of his personal ad campaign.
