Cycling Advert Banned
Cycling Advert Banned 2014
CTC/PR
ASA ban advert for lack of helmet
The Advertising Standards Authority have banned an advert by Cycling Scotland urging drivers to give cyclist’s room, because the rider pictured is not wearing a helmet. The BBC say that the ASA said it should not be shown on TV again as not wearing a helmet was “socially irresponsible”.
The CTC have responded in this press release: Advertising watchdog’s helmet ruling threatens the promotion of normal cycling CTC, the national cycling charity, has voiced concern over a ruling by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) which could prevent future adverts from showing cyclists without helmets on TV.
Ruling on a complaint against a TV advert produced by Cycling Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, the ASA has ruled that all future television advertising featuring cyclists must only show cyclists wearing helmets. CTC is deeply concerned of the effect that such a ruling could have on the future popularity of cycling and increase public perception that cycling is more dangerous than it really is. You are in fact less likely to be killed in a mile of cycling than a mile of walking (DfT Reported Road Casualties Great Britain, table RAS30070).
They have also issued a ruling on the cyclists’ position on the road which is at odds with UK-wide national standards for cycle training, which CTC was instrumental in developing, and which are now backed by the UK and Scottish Governments.
As a result, the ASA told Cycling Scotland that any future ads featuring cyclists should be shown wearing helmets and placed in ‘the most suitable cycling position’, which the ASA believes is towards the side of the road.
The latest data on cycle helmet use across Britain suggests that under a third of people wear helmets. In the Netherlands, where cycling is considered a normal activity and where over a quarter of all trips are made by cycle, helmet use is almost non-existent among those cycling for day-to-day journeys.
CTC’s Chief Executive Gordon Seabright, who is also a board member of Cycling Scotland, said: “The ASA’s ill-advised decision shows a misunderstanding of common cycle safety issues and risks undermining the promotion of cycling as a safe and normal activity.”
Dr Jennifer Mindell, Clinical Senior Lecturer at UCL, said, “I don’t know why cycling has a reputation for being so risky. The risks are lower in general for cyclists than for pedestrians. Males aged 17-20 are at substantially higher risk when driving than when cycling.”
