TV car ad scoots away from complaints

A car advertisement which drew complaints from some viewers for being "irresponsible" and encouraging bad driving, has been dismissed by the Advertising Standards Complaints Board.

The television advert involved a Toyota Yaris parked outside a tow truck depot which toots its horn and squirts its screen washer, inviting the trucks to chase. The advert shows the tow trucks pursuing the Yaris and coming to grief in various ways in their efforts to find it.

A complaint from S.J. Lang said it was difficult to believe that the ad was allowed to be screened. "The scenes depicted surely only encourage people to do things that only add to our already too high road toll."

A similar complaint from J.W. Sawers said the advertisement was "irresponsible".

In its ruling the board said it took into account the advertisement was shown in an industrial-type yard and environment and that none of the vehicles shown had drivers. The entire advert "showed a situation of pure fantasy".

The board found the advert did not encourage unsafe practices, or glorify excessive speed and unsafe driving practices.

While a majority did not uphold the complaint, a minority of the board had some sympathy with the complainants.

- NZPA