TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2007//
TI  - Smooth handling: The lack of safety-related consumer information in car advertisements
JO  - Injury prevention
A1  - Wilson, N.
A1  - Maher, Anthony
A1  - Thomson, George
A1  - Keall, Michael D.
SP  - 304
EP  - 306
VL  - 13
IS  - 5
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To examine the content and trends of safety-related consumer information in magazine vehicle advertisements, as a case study within the worldwide marketing of vehicles. METHODS: Content analysis of popular current affairs magazines in New Zealand for the 5-year period 2001-2005 was undertaken (n = 514 advertisements), supplemented with vehicle data from official websites. RESULTS: Safety information in advertisements for light passenger vehicles was relatively uncommon with only 27% mentioning one or more of nine key safety features examined (average: 1.7 out of nine features in this 27%). Also included were potentially hazardous features of: speed imagery (in 29% of advertisements), power references (14%), and acceleration data (4%). The speed and power aspects became relatively more common over the 5-year period (p < 0.05 for trend). CONCLUSIONS: To enhance informed consumer choice and improve injury prevention, governments should consider regulating the content of vehicle advertisements and vehicle marketing - as already occurs with many other consumer products.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1353-8047
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ip.2007.016402
ID  - ref1
ER  -