The state transport ministry has been worrying about the growing number of road accidents in the country. To encourage safe riding and driving habits, the ministry has proposed not to allow any promotion or advertisement of a product that violates traffic rules.
Commercials and promotions featuring riders riding without helmet, dangerous driving or speeding, and such instances will be treated as an offence under the Motor Vehicle Act. The companies involved in the promotion of such, will also be penalised. The state transport departments have been demanding that such ads or promotions be treated as a serious offence. As a response to the demands, the officials from the road transport ministry had proposed showing warning messages. However, with a zero tolerance approach, the state officials have insisted that the new section in the motor vehicles act, be strictly enforced.
The norms for art works and films will vary as these may be essential to the particular storyline. Speaking on the occasion, a transport ministry official said, “In those cases, producers would be asked to run a warning when a stunt involving a motor vehicle is being shown.” Another official present at the event added that even when there is no real need to do so, certain manufacturers have displayed irresponsible advertisements that projected unsafe driving,.
The move will force ad-makers and promoters to use more common sense in their advertisement. Though they will not be happy with the move, it will no longer encourage the public to break the law. As for films, projecting stunts with statutory warning will not easily influence the audience to follow them.
Source: TOI
