May 6, 2007: With the simple but true tagline, “The Faster the Speed, the Bigger the Mess,” this :60, launched April 26, from Ireland’s Road Safety Authority and Northern Ireland’s Department of Environment delivers a powerful but simple message: The faster the speed, the bigger the mess. Entitled “Mess,” the commercial is born from statistics that find 30 percent of Republic of Ireland and 24 percent of Northern Ireland road fatalities are due to excessive speed. The spot is part of an increasing trend towards the use of reality-based shock and brutal honesty to deliver the message.
As with most accidents, the spot, created by Lyle Bailie International Limited, begins with a peaceful, unassuming moment then progresses through the surprise, shock, horror, despair, retribution, regret and sorrow experienced by each person involved in the horrific ordeal. The mesmerizing soundtrack with the lyrics, “I can’t take my eyes off you” lends even more intensity to the gravity of the unfolding after effects of the accident. Watch this spot a few time and you’ll think twice the next time you consider pushing the pedal a bit more than you should.
