13 Public Safety Ads That Were More Terrifying Than Helpful
Some safety ads went so far trying to scare people straight, they ended up being pure nightmare fuel.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Public service announcements are meant to inform and protect, but sometimes, they cross the line into horror movie territory. Instead of educating the viewers, these campaigns left them traumatized or confused. Here are 13 over-the-top safety ads that frightened more than they enlightened.
1. U.K.’s “Think! – Always Wear a Seatbelt”
Tim Samuel on Pexels
This ad featured a man getting into a crash with such force that his daughter’s head fatally collides with his. The slow-motion, graphic impact scene shocked viewers across the U.K. It raised awareness, sure — but it also left a generation deeply unsettled.
2. New Zealand’s “Mistakes” Speeding Ad
Kaique Rocha on Pexels
In this haunting PSA, two drivers freeze in time before impact and plead with each other to avoid a fatal crash. The eerie calm before the inevitable collision adds emotional weight — and dread.
3. Australia’s “Set Yourself Free” Anti-Drug Ad
MART PRODUCTION on Pexels
Masquerading as a dreamy teen beach party, this ad took a sudden, violent turn involving landmines. The shocking twist was unforgettable, but critics argued it was excessive.
4. Canada’s “Prevent It” Workplace Safety Campaign
Mike Mozart on Flickr
One unforgettable ad shows a woman slipping and spilling boiling oil on herself right before she’s about to be promoted. The graphic injuries and gut-wrenching sound effects haunted viewers long after.
5. U.K.’s “Drink Drive – Julie”
Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels
This chilling campaign showed a group of friends killed in a drunk driving crash, with one survivor emotionally destroyed by the consequences. The raw portrayal of death and guilt hit hard.
6. Ireland’s Road Safety Authority “Classroom”
Mauro Sbicego on Unsplash
This ad involved a speeding car plowing through a group of schoolchildren during a picnic. The scene was so graphic and tragic that it was banned in multiple countries.
7. Scotland’s “Don’t Take Drugs” Ad
Kindel Media on Pexels
This anti-drug spot depicted a young boy watching his mother overdose in a filthy apartment. The silence and stark imagery made it more disturbing than any horror film.
8. Australia’s “Every 15 Minutes” Drinking and Driving Ad
Erum Vial on Pexels
Featuring realistic crash reenactments and raw footage of families being notified of deaths, this campaign blurred the line between PSA and horror documentary. Critics argued it relied too much on shock value. It left emotional scars on many who watched.
9. U.S. “Meth – Not Even Once” Campaign
WikiLinuz on Wikimedia Commons
This campaign used grotesque imagery of meth addiction’s effects — rotting teeth, self-harm, psychosis — to scare teens straight. While memorable, the horror elements often overshadowed the actual message.
10. London’s “Embrace Life” Seatbelt Ad
Tim Samuel on Pexels
Although not graphically violent, this ad used slow, emotional choreography to depict a man surviving a crash with his family, “embracing” him like a seatbelt. While beautiful, it was also emotionally heavy, leaving viewers in tears. Its haunting tone lingered.
11. New York’s “It’s 10PM, Do You Know Where Your Kids Are?”
Adam Stuart on Pexels
This iconic line was accompanied by ominous music and eerie visuals, making it feel more like a thriller trailer than a PSA. It became cultural shorthand for fear-based parenting.
12. Australia’s TAC “This is What Speeding Sounds Like”
Tomwsulcer on Wikimedia Commons
A woman screams in agony while her injured child cries out after a car crash — all shown in complete darkness. Only the audio played, letting imagination do the terrifying work.
13. New Zealand’s “Ghost Chips” Drink Driving Ad
energepic.com on Pexels
Intended to be humorous, it featured a ghost warning his friend not to drink and drive. The odd tone and creepy ghost character made it memorable but confused the message.