Portrayals of Driving Behavior on TV

Re-creating the Driver's Driving Culture

Introduction
Summaries of G6 reports
Observations

Conclusion

Introduction: Mass Media Appeals

Messages are most effectively communicated when tailored to suit the special attributes of the channel through which they are to travel. For the purpose of this report, I would like to suggest that audiovisual media, especially television, are the best channels of communication because the materials presented are both heard and seen. It has been argued by my generational predecessors that portrayals of driving on television negatively influences viewer's attitude on driving, especially children. As a result, children will grow up and eventually become drivers with a false pre-conceived notion of driving. Adults (whether we like it or not) are as likely as children to develop bad driving habits from television.

In this report, I will attempt to examine Dr. Driving's theory on television's negative influence on viewers' by observing ten different television programs. I will, then, try to take it a step further by evaluating the programs I viewed. Finally, I will devise a rating that will alert a viewer of the kind of driving portrayed on the Television program he or she is about to see. The television ratings will be determined as follows:
BD: This rating will appear when a movie exhibits general bad driving behavior (ie. speeding, running red lights, changing lanes on intersections, paying little attention on the raod while driving, etc.)Children below the age of 13 should be accompanied by an adult viewer(1-3.)

BD-13: This rating will be shown when a movie exhibits extreme bad driving behavior or raod rage (ie. tailgating, excessive speeding, cutting off another driver, swerving in and out of other cars, engaging in very hostile expressions and sign waving (flying the bird),etc.) These type of movies should not be viewed by children below 13 years of age (4-6.)

BD-18 This rating will be shown when a movie exhibits all bad driving behaviors such as the ones explained in BD-13. Children below the age of 18 should not be permmitted to view this type of movies without an adult supervision(7-9.)

BASIS OF RATINGS

1) Prominence: importance and emphasis of tv progaram on a particular scene containing a bad driving behavior.
2) Realism: possible replication of the scene containing bad driving behavior.
3) Danger: degree of danger involved in the scene containing bad driving behavior.

Each of the three categories are rated on a scale of 1-3 (3 has the highest potential in its category.) Each movie can earn a maximum of 9 points. The sum total of each program (movie, cartoon, or commercial) will determine the appropriate rating.

Prominence: 0-3

Realism: 0-3

Danger: 0-3

Total: 9

These type of ratings will insure parents that their children are not watching movies they are not supposed to. The different ratings will alert parents whether they should be present at the time of television viewing or not. When the rating requires them to, they should take time to do so. This way, parents can identify the different bad driving behaviors, on tv, and advice their children on what would be the appropriate behavior or response. Also, included in this report are summaries of selected G6 reports on Portrayals of Driving on TV- Good or Bad?, my contribution on how this report has influenced me, and my thoughts on the future generation of Traffic Psychology.

Back to the Beginning
Go to Navigation Table

Summaries of selected G6 reports on the portrayals of bad driving behavior on TV.

InMs. Kaneshiro'sreport, She is concerned with the fact that often times parents become obsessed with what their children watch, but rarely stop to examine the content of the shows they themselves watch. Adults appear to have a greater ability to judge situations, and have the ability to decipher between fantasy and reality. Yet this heightened awareness one receives in adulthood is not always dependable. How can one state that they are not affected by bad driving behavior on TV. Ms. Kaneshiro states that because there is so much violence and negative scenes on TV that adults or rather people in general have "developed a greater tolerance for violence." She also states that because of the numerous amounts of bad driving portrayals on TV, these scenes in turn have less of a "shock value"

She hopes that in the future that the increasing interest to "road rage" on-line will bring more attention to the subject. The Internet allows innumerable amounts of people access to reports on road rage and aggressive driving, and she hopes that in the future people will use this resource to educate others.

In Ms. Kato's report on portrayals of driving behavior on TV, she raises a good argument about the correlation between television viewing and development of role models. In her report, she viewed ten different television programs: Cartoons, TV Commercials, Music Videos, Television Series, and Movies. From these television programs, she documented all possible bad driving behavior shown. Ms. Kato admits that she was appalled by her findings. She can not believe the extent of bad driving behavior protrayed on television. Since television is one of the leading entertainment systems we have at home, she explains that we spend "long hours of television watching," especially children. She argues that these long hours of television viewing allow children as well as adults to find a role model which they are more likely to imitate. She adds that children are more likely to find a role model from the television because of the "lack of attention and interaction from their parents." Television, therefore, greatly influences the beliefs, attitudes, and values of viewers especially children. Ms. Kato concludes that television programs promote bad driving behavior. Because of this, she suggests dissemination of this kind of reports to elementary school children where both parents and teachers will work together to educate the children

Ms. Subia's report on Portrayals of Drivers on TV-Good or Bad?, introduces us to another fact of television viewing which is television programs promote violence. She argues that [constant} exposure to television programs which contain violent behaviors allows us to have greater tolerance for violence. In her report she examined eight different television programs taken from movies, cartoons, commerials, and sports programming. Her meticulous observation of each television programs, enabled her to uncover bad driving behavior as well as violence on TV. Ms. Subia adds that "TV shows and movies sensationalize violent car chases," but " its what excites the audiences." Her report exposes the negative messages television programs convey to viewers (whether intentional or not.) These negative messages are often ignored because viewers do not realize the subconscious impact on them. Publication of reports like this through the information super highway, she adds, will reach a broader audience; thus, it will promote a better driving behavior.

Back to the Beginning
Go to Navigation Table

Observations: The Source Factors

Movies

Liar Liar
Bogus
Twins
Speed
Assassin
A Scent Of A Woman

Commercials

Sustacal

Cartoons

Voltron
Thundercats
Jonny Quest

Liar Liar

Day :Friday
Date :Octover 24
Time :9:00 pm
Channel/Network:47, Pay Preview
Type :Movie
Name of Program:Liar Liar

Description of Event

Jim Carrey rushed to the airport to prevent his son form leaving. He parked illegally, stole a forklift, and chases after the plane (currently) running on the runway getting ready to take off. The scene takes at leas ten minutes.