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Railway safety videos - they don't make them like this any more...
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bramling
Veteran Member
Probably might influence a few, especially at school age, but for adults if they can't identify for themselves the dangers of trains and the railway then a video isn't going to help, no matter how explicit. I've heard it said that the most disappointing thing about growing up is when one realises how thick some adults are, and there's a lot of truth to this.
roversfan2001
Established Member
The problem with that video is that it's too over the top. Even when the video was made, were there organised races/events on the live railway? Almost definitely not. This might have worked for any child under the age of about 9, anyone older would realise this was obviously staged and it wouldn't affect them, if they wanted to play on the tracks before watching the video they would still want to after.
Don't know about that - stacking dead children up like firewood is a pretty damned effective visual metaphor.
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roversfan2001
Established Member
Possibly so - obviously the effect it has varies from person to person.
Personally that video didn't affect me; I remember seeing one in primary school (must have been about 8 years ago now, I think I was in year 3) where a boy was electrocuted fetching his football after kicking it over the fence. A very realistic storyline meant the video really hammered home the dangers. A video portraying adults encouraging children to walk 3 miles down a tunnel isn't realistic so won't have the same effect.
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bramling
Veteran Member
Trouble is, no matter how explicit you make it, many people think they know better and that "bad things happen to other people". That's if they think at all of course.
roversfan2001
Established Member
After watching the video in the OP I came across this one... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC9tmVqGvn4
IMO this video is far more effective. It is shorter, meaning the audience doesn't get bored before the end; it has a far more realistic storyline; and even almost 40 years after it was made it can still affect kids on a personal level, if they are interested in football and also have a thirst for danger. Obviously it's just my opinion, but this video is miles better than the one the OP posted for discouraging children to trespass on the tracks.
IMO this video is far more effective. It is shorter, meaning the audience doesn't get bored before the end; it has a far more realistic storyline; and even almost 40 years after it was made it can still affect kids on a personal level, if they are interested in football and also have a thirst for danger. Obviously it's just my opinion, but this video is miles better than the one the OP posted for discouraging children to trespass on the tracks.
For clarification - it wasn't the specific video that I was asking about but rather the style. The one you linked to is of the same vintage and style.
roversfan2001
Established Member
In that case then I agree with you, videos like this would 100% teach children not to trespass - just your example video wasn't the best example, that's all.
Thought I'd asked in the other thread how well this text/drive advert worked.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R0LCmStIw9E
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R0LCmStIw9E
roversfan2001
Established Member
One of the versions of that (I believe there are 3?) is one I linked to earlier on the thread. A very effective film indeed.
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The difference from today being that they didn't shy away from showing the potential effects - piles of bodies for example. These days they would never do that for fear of offending the squeamish.
roversfan2001
Established Member
Which is a shame, as personally I would rather see the gruesome effects in a well-made safety video that teaches people not to trespass than watch a tame safety video that dumbs down the consequences meaning people don't learn and others have to see the effects in person.
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bramling
Veteran Member
I've never understood why we nowadays generally insulate people from more explicit images. It's the same with road accidents - I don't see any harm at all in showing people *reality*, providing it's done with the intention of being for 'educational' purposes. Then again, some people are simply so thick, or self-centered ("I know best and I'll do what I want"), that the message won't get through no matter how simply it's presented to them.
d1672
Member
I used this video during the late 80's and early 90's during induction training for BR staff. It had quite an effect on some of the adults.
Thomas
theironroad
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Wow! Thanks for sharing this. I never knew such explicit stuff existed.
At times I didn't know whether to laugh or cry it was so well done, but I did both.
Did it get the message across at the time - I don't know!
Would it be allowed on public broadcasting TV in 2017? - I'd 99℅ say no, especially the final scenes. The few ads seen on TV especially the level crossing campaigns always go to a blank screen to leave the outcome to the viewers imagination. If this was shown on TV today there would be an outcry to the ASA or the OFCOM as it would be deemed too distressing.
I don't know if and what is shown in schools about railway safety but I'm afraid some kids today would probably see the games as a challenge to emulate rather than a lesson not to go on the railway.
I agree, they don't seem to show the physical effects these days but rather leave it to the imagination like in these videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy-sIfsW7tg,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQMtNGIVT90
Australian Safety Video:
https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=x_2-JtZYusA
or is it : https://www.youtube.com/watch?ci=x_2-JtZYusA
https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=x_2-JtZYusA
or is it : https://www.youtube.com/watch?ci=x_2-JtZYusA
GatwickDepress
Established Member
Perhaps one of the most popular railway safety videos in recent years has been this jaunty little tune from Metro Trains Melbourne:
[youtube]IJNR2EpS0jw[/youtube]
[youtube]IJNR2EpS0jw[/youtube]
roversfan2001
Established Member
Wow, I've never seen the end to that until now - never realised it was a rail safety ad!
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My primary school was right next to the railway (WCML to be precise) and from the age of 4 (so that would be year 1, or Reception as they now call it) we had a man from British Rail come into the school every year and show us one of those videos and to basically tell us not to trespass on the railway or we'd end up dead!
We'd get given a badge too, like this: http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/FAEAAOSwzaJX~gCY/s-l225.jpg
Do schools get a visit these days from (nearly said British Rail!) Network Rail or the BT Police warning kids to stay off the railway?
We'd get given a badge too, like this: http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/FAEAAOSwzaJX~gCY/s-l225.jpg
Do schools get a visit these days from (nearly said British Rail!) Network Rail or the BT Police warning kids to stay off the railway?
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Clansman
Established Member
My primary and secondary schools are only a quarter of a mile from a railway line, where there are lots of trespassers as well as vandalism, and to my knowledge, there's not been a single person having come in to explain the importance of staying away from the tracks and I doubt there ever will unless things really get out of hand.
That's why https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R0LCmStIw9Eis, which is far more explicit and realistic than the videos linked here, would never be made nowadays. Cotton wool, snowflakes,, safe space, entitled, etc
Why didn't the train driver in the "race across the tracks" bother even bother to whistle?
The car accident video is only 7 years old! It probably would be made again if deemed necessary, but shorter. I think Robbie would as well, and possibly a variation on the rock throwing. Nowadays there are whole programmes like Motorway cops or police 24/7.
The issue is how to get the message through to those who can do something to prevent such acts occuring, either adults who should know better, or younger people who do not understand the potential consequences. And they are not accidents, they are the results of wilful misconduct by someone.
Pakenhamtrain
Member
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMzwr2rMXbk
Adelaide seem to get to the point.
Adelaide seem to get to the point.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Me, as well. They certainly made the point.
A local police officer used to come into school and preside over their showing.
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That would work as well without being as gory as some of the older ones were.
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It's also aimed at adults, and is no gorier than plenty of 18 movies. Those older railway videos are aimed at primary age kids.
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Definitely remember being shown that one as a kid. There was also a third rail variant showing the kid tripping on the third rail and getting burns as well.
I also recall the local policeman being there. I think he took questions; that job must require the patience of a saint.
I saw "The Finishing Line" at a annual conference on safety films which I was attending from work, and got asked to sit on the jury at short notice (mostly because a couple of other films were directly related to my fire safety work). It was quite interesting to see the range of opinions on "The Finishing Line" although I recall it did get a high mark from the jury. The notes issued about the film did make clear it was expected to be shown in schools by a BR representative so they could back up the film with appropriate local references.
Interestingly the BFI booklet issued with volume 7 of the collection comments that it was adults' reaction to the film that caused BR to bring out "Robbie" three years later with less explicit images!
Interestingly the BFI booklet issued with volume 7 of the collection comments that it was adults' reaction to the film that caused BR to bring out "Robbie" three years later with less explicit images!
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