Radio PSA

Federal Highway Administration
Pedestrian Safety Countermeasures Education

Summary of TWG3 Evaluations of Radio PSAs

LISBOA, Inc.
9/24/02

In sum, most of the TWG3 comments about the radio PSAs were positive. One participant noted that she had difficulty selecting the top four because she liked them all. There were several areas of agreement with regard to the members' comments and suggestions. There was agreement among most of the participants about changing the comment in the Radio 1: Safe Driver PSA from "I'm a safe driver" to "I'm a good driver." Likewise, many respondents commented on changing Radio 2: Young Girl from "Drivers are always in a hurry." to "Why are drivers always in a hurry?" Next, there was agreement among the participants to drop Radio 5: Moment of Silence. This was rated the lowest of the six radio PSAs. The next least favorite PSA was Radio 3: Mom, only eight TWG3 participants rated this PSA in their top four choices, there were numerous negative comments about the ad, and none of the participants rated it as their top choice.

The highest rated choices, based on number of votes, rankings, and written comments were Radio 4: Distracted Teen, Radio 1: Safe Driver, Radio 6: Let's Make a Deal, and Radio 2: Young Girl.

Statistics

Radio 1: Safe Driver

• Background music is too loud, the screech of the tires gets lost. Use more somber music or silence after crash. Pause before "stop for them."
  
  
• Audio too loud, can't hear words. Don't like tagline. Music shouldn't be happy, use "good driver" not "safe driver" could use "just like you, I'm a good driver." Have silence after the screech & more somber music.
  
  
• Good. Change to "I'm a good driver."
  
  
• Good - add road noise in beginning. Tied in with PSA - good reinforcement. "Just like you. . ." Add sound of glass breaking.
  
  
• Change to "just like you, I'm a good driver." Use silence after brakes.
  
  
• Be careful with screech.
  
  
• Change to "I'm a good driver."
  
  
• Add a little more passion.

Radio1

Radio 2: Young Girl

• Put "drivers are always in a hurry" first. Add something like "as he turned the corner."
  
  
• Change to "Why are drivers always in a hurry?" or "What's the hurry?"
  
  
• Female voice - good. Don't like the tagline. Use "Why are drivers always in a hurry?" Use silence before "please." Drop music at the end or make it more somber.
  
  
• Use "Why are drivers in a hurry?"
  
  
• Change to "Why are drivers always in such a hurry?" Change second sentence to "He wasn't (not didn't) look for my mother."
  
  
• Good - especially "drivers are always in a hurry." Tied in with PSA - good reinforcement.
  
  
• Change to "Why are drivers always in a hurry?"
  
  
• I don't like the wording, "you can save a life."
  
  
• She sounds matter of fact in the beginning. Use "Why was that driver in such a hurry?"

Radio 2

Radio 3: Mom (My son could make anyone smile)

• Voice is too young.
  
  
• Sounds like a child.
  
  
• "Protect a life or wreck your forever." Use "instant" twice. Audio too loud - can't hear words. Delete the music. I like this tagline.
  
  
• Excellent message - fine tune sound. Use "in an instant" for both messages. Use "protect a life."
  
  
• Music needs to be more somber. Mother needs some sadness/twinge of anger.
  
  
• Use "in an instant" for both.
  
  
• Use a different voice - either more mature or more passionate, etc.

Radio 3

Radio 4: Distracted Teen (I was on my way to school)

• Good. Use teen language.
  
  
• An actual hit would have more impact.
  
  
• Good. Voice too old. This is especially needed - "I almost hit" "We were just on our way to school. . ." Use "that kid." Maybe hip hop music?
  
  
• Important target audience.
  
  
• Very Good - Get teen to change words - not so sophisticated. Have more teens laughing and talking in background.
  
  
• Use this one with suggested changes from group.
  
  
• A little too much emphasis on the word "seen."
  
  
• Good. "I was just driving to work" is good too.
  
  
• Good, but add some more passion.
  

Radio 4

Radio 5: Moment of Silence

• Not specific enough. Like the pause before stop.
  
  
• Drop it.
  
  
• Eliminate this one.
  
  
• Drop it.
  
  
• Too many problems.
  
  
• Not so good.
  
  
• Use different voices (my grandma), don't use the number 20.

None of the TWG3 participants voted for Radio PSA5 in their top four choices. This was the only spot that did not receive any votes in the top four and therefore should be eliminated.

Radio 6: Let's Make a Deal

• Starts strong & ends weak. Use a child's voice. The tagline is too weak.
  
  
• Insert "so let's share the road."
  
  
• Cooperation between driver & pedestrian - good. Good message. "together we can make a difference. Use "Let's make a deal at the beginning." Use "I'll cross at the corner."
  
  
• Together we can make a difference.
  
  
• Fix the problem with the pedestrian message, i.e. crossing at signal.
  
  
• Excellent message - no music. Needs fine tuning. "I'll watch for you and cross at corners or crosswalks - you watch for me and stop. Think of the impact we can make."
  
  
• Use "Think of the impact we can make" for tagline.
  
  
• Boring, not sure this will get played for free.
  
  
• Change to "I'll watch for you & you watch for me." My suggestion is weak, I can't think of a livelier tagline.
  
  
• The pedestrian should say, "I'll cross at the corner and look both ways."
  
  
• Nice youthful voice. Use "I'll cross at the corner." Instead of "I'll wait for the pedestrian signal."
  
  
• Change to "you watch for us pedestrians and stop for us."
  
  
• Use this one, but delete the reference to the signal and add something like "I'll cross safely at the intersection or corner."
  

Radio 6