Jaywalking is one of those probs that’s plagued mankind since the invention of the horse-drawn carriage. But now thanks to mobile phones our tendency to cross the road, while also catching up on the group chat, is higher than ever before.
In fact, since 2010 it’s estimated that around 10% of pedestrian injuries/deaths are due to this habit of combining jaywalking with texting. It’s a combination Tracy Grimshaw would call a ‘recipe for disaster’.
So, in a misguided attempt to help reduce texting/jaywalking-related injuries, North Sydney Council have just gone and released the most millennial public awareness campaign we’ve ever seen…. and there really are no words.
[jwplayer R96KTr5m]
Titled ‘Take A Look Around’, the video in question debuted on Council’s Facebook page earlier today and features “Power-Ballad Guy” and “Rappin’ Gal”.
Us right now:
The 2 minute 40 second clip shows two artists (who look they got lost on the way to their 2004 Australian Idol auditions) perform a awe-inspiringly shite ballad-meet-rap battle, quoting #relatable things like ‘bestie’ and ‘Netflix’ into their public service banger.
Do you feel ‘seen’ now folks? Well? Do ya?
But asides from the broader lessons about road safety, the campaign also offers some moments of pure lyrical genius.
My personal favourites include gems like:
“Human beings all together on the North Side, got brains common sense to use, so better switch on your street smarts, or a bus will beep and you’ll lose.” Pure gold.
Second only to: “Eyes plus brain equals alive” and “use them eyeballs yo”.
Don’t believe us? Watch it for yourself here:
To top things off, the video is accompanied by a short blurb notifying viewers to “watch to the end for your chance to win an iPad Mini!”
I’m telling you now, don’t watch to the end. You do not want an iPad that bad.
While a big part of me is aware that this campaign is likely just a poorly executed satire thought up by some overworked contractors, the other, more dominant part, is wondering if my uncle who vehemently claims to be “down with the kids” is secretly behind it all.
North Sydney Councillor, Samuel Gunning, also ain’t a fan, calling the campaign a giant waste of residents’ recent council rate increase:
“There is even greater cause for concern about a 40% rise in council rates in North Sydney if the Council is justifying it with these sorts of projects,” Gunning says.
“People know how to cross the road, we shouldn’t spend ratepayers money to tell them how.”
