Screeching Antilock Brakes
Screeching Antilock Brakes
The latest zaniness in television advertisements comes from car
manufacturers. Volkswagen and others have been running ads touting
the antilock braking system (ABS) in their cars. In a representative
spot, a couple realizes that they have accidentally returned a risque
home video. The driver slams on the brakes. The car comes to a
screeching halt, and the screen cuts to the text Antilock
Brakes.
Wait a minute, the car's antilock brakes bring the car to a
screeching halt? I thought the point of the ABS was to
prevent the tires from locking up, hence keeping the tires rolling and
preventing rubber-burning stops. How could marketers go so wrong,
highlighting a feature by mixing in the exact audio effect eliminated
by that feature?
Copyright © 1999 Andrew Oliver