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You cannot teach an old dog new tricks, but GEICO’s new ad campaign thinks dogs can teach humans to stop using their phones while driving.
The insurer has launched a new spot that humorously depicts dogs being trained to put down or even take away drivers’ phones, to prevent distracted driving. While these so-called “Smartdogs” do not actually exist, GEICO suggests that the next best thing drivers have is the “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature on their phones.
Citing statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), GEICO said in a release that only one in five drivers set the “Do Not Disturb While Driving” on their smartphones while they are on the road. The insurer also quoted the National Safety Council, which has put out a call for drivers to keep their hands on the wheel instead of their phones, after records revealed that about 25% of vehicle crashes involve smartphone use.
Smartphone activities such as texting, browsing social media, taking selfies, or even shuffling a music playlist are “especially dangerous” for drivers, GEICO warned.
“These types of interactions force drivers to take their hands off the wheel, their eyes off the road and their minds off their surroundings,” the insurer cautioned.
GEICO has also warned that smartphones are not the only source of distraction. Actions such as reaching for objects in the vehicle, eating while driving, and even conversing can be distracting to drivers, and raise the possibility of a collision occurring.
