Attention: EU may add warning labels to car adverts
We see it every day on TVs here in the states; commercials complete with warnings about side effects that range from impotence, vomiting, or uncontrollable bowel movements. And that's just for curing toenail fungus. The European Union is noodling the idea of using warnings in car commercials, with the aim of arming consumers with the knowledge of how the vehicle impacts the environment. While requiring automakers to include CO2 and fuel use impact in their advertising seems like a decent idea, the rest of the EU proposal would never fly here in the US. The proposal also calls for limiting all vehicle speed limits to 101 MPH, with the rationale that it makes no sense that automakers increased power by 28% since 1994 even though no country raised their speed limits. Blame it on the Autobahn -- it's hard to raise the limit above "no speed limit."
The proposal, which will be debated by the European Parliament in October, also recommends banning all advertising that promotes high speed driving capabilities, which makes zero sense if the EU bans driving over 101 MPH anyway.
[Source: The Truth About Cars]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fabri91 8:17AM (9/23/2007)
Stupid and useless.
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Yago Bal 8:52AM (9/23/2007)
It's OK.
That's just a radical deputy (member of the parliament) proposal and it will obviously not go foward on the European Parliament.
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big L 9:55AM (9/24/2007)
european parliament--Hahahaha. What do they know about cars?
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asolar 10:47AM (9/23/2007)
Ban this, restrict that, forget big brother, I think the EU is trying to turn into big mother.
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Andrew 11:30AM (9/23/2007)
It not actually the EU trying to do this - but some nut in the parliament! And do you think the US Congress is any better?!
Pat 11:02AM (9/23/2007)
Banning cars not to exceed 160 km/h seems kinda silly.
Average speeder Joe Bonehead probably doesn't speed past that speed anyhow.
The only people you are banning are the jerks that go 200 km/h plus --and they're few and far.
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Eldiablo 11:05AM (9/23/2007)
Caution:- This SsanYong may induce feelings of boredom.
Caution:- This Porsche makes you look like a cock.
Caution:- The TVR depicted will break down every 37hrs, even if its left in the garage.
And so on? Ahh, I heart the Law Makers in Bruxelles.
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Andrew 11:31AM (9/23/2007)
Actually that would be the lawmakers in Brussels and Strasbourg to be correct (twin-Parliament) :)
Chad 12:15PM (9/23/2007)
Mark my words - motor vehicles are the new "Cigarette."
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Barney 10:19PM (9/23/2007)
I see your point!
Ford Wannup 1:19PM (9/23/2007)
If the Euros went through with this, it may turn out to be the break that all other non-Euro manufacturers are looking for....European manufacturers losing their edge. Shh...Don't tell them that by making faster, more powerful cars, they learn to make better, more efficient, "everyday" cars as well.
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RDL 1:37PM (9/23/2007)
Don't they have anything better to do?
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Hooper 1:38PM (9/23/2007)
"[B]anning all advertising that promotes high speed driving capabilities... makes zero sense if the EU bans driving over 101 MPH anyway."
You don't consider driving at 100 mph on a public highway high-speed driving?
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nagmashot 2:10PM (9/23/2007)
so in the future you only need to look at the car with the most warnings to get the one for the most fun to drive... thanks EU that make choosing a car more easy :)
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500 6:44PM (9/23/2007)
Exactly. The warnings would be a badge of honor. They would be about as effective in discouraging people from buying high-performance cars as the warnings on ads for Axe body spray (I can't stand those ads, but apparently people buy the stuff.)
Harrison 6:20PM (9/23/2007)
Bah. If they wanted to get their point across, use subliminal messages :D
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reader 7:06PM (9/23/2007)
Well I don't think the idea is too terrible, then automakers would just go from high speed (rarely reach it anyways) to ridiculously fast acceleration (can use that anytime). I wouldn't mind having the average luxury car get 0-60 (mph) in 3.5 seconds or less.
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Rex 10:37PM (9/23/2007)
wait, this is from the same land with autobahn, bugattis, ferraris, porsches (and my personal favorite) koeingsegg? somebody pinch me (and correct my spellings too!)
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