Advertising Standards Bureau - Review of Operations 2013 | Page 44
connection with other silly behaviours of the
character it is obvious that the activities are all
in the context of a range of foolish behaviour
leading to the need for the advertised product and
dismissed complaints.
An advertisement which featured a driver reverse
parking (Hungry Jacks- 0430/13) showed the
driver stopping when he heard a loud noise.
The noise came from the sound of a passenger
biting into a chicken burger, and it is unclear as
to whether seatbelts are worn when the car is
in motion. On consideration of the Australian
Road Rules in regard to seatbelt safety, the Board
found this advertisement to breach Section 2.6
of the Code for depicting the passengers without
seatbelts while the car was in motion.
Portable devices and phone usage in motor
vehicles raised community concern in 2013 with
several advertisements considered under Section
2.6. In an advertisement for Samsung Electronics
(0028/13) a passenger in a car shows the driver
the screen of a Samsung phone. The Board noted
that it is not against the law to look away from
the road while driving and considered that as
we do not see the driver or their reaction the
advertisement is not depicting material which
would be contrary to prevailing community
standards on safe driving practices.
An advertisement featuring a mobile phone
holder for motor vehicles (Global Shop Direct
– 0061/13) attracted complaints for depicting
unsafe driving practices. The Board noted that in
one scene the presenter of the advertisement is
shown leaning out of the driver’s window while
driving and shaking the phone and product
to demonstrate the sticking power. The Board
considered that this action of leaning out of the
window is illegal in some, if not all, States and
Territories in Australia and is therefore contrary
to prevail