[Inspector Abberline]

Hell's Highway - The True Story of Highway Safety Films

When we look back at the public information films of the 1970 and early 80's they do seem somewhat harsh,but then again that's the point,no good if it doesn't drive home the danger of what ever it is there warning you about,if all you gonna do is go MEH and still stick your fingers in the electric socket or dive head first into the nearest canal while hiding in an abandoned fridge.And as the list posted previously showed they were and are effective,so why aren't they still being shown?and more to the point,in this day and age we could be even more graphic in our depiction of our kids frying themselves on the nearest power lines.In fact if you want to get more in your face with PIF then you need to go back in time to the 1950's,when the driver educational films were being made. These volunteer film-makers from Ohio didn't piddle about by hiring actors to look all sad because they drove into the car in front,no these guys would chase ambulance's and arrive at the scene of a crash,sometimes even beating the emergency services to the scene,by listening in to the police radios.
With such titles as Highways of Agony (1969) and Wheels of Tragedy(1963) they were deliberately titled to grab the attention of any restless pupils who were to watch these driver education films in the classroom,and if the title weren't enough then the on screen carnage of twisted metal and limp bodies being dragged from the vehicles should of kept them at least glued to there seats.Even by today's standards with its You Tube happy slapping and such like you will not have scene anything like this outside of Mondo movie,especially considering its audience were teenage kids on the verge of getting there first car.These films make the top ten list of scariest public information films look decidedly very weak indeed. The dvd set has an in depth documentary on the history of the film-makers,with tons of clips throughout and three short films include as well.