This commercial was banned for promoting speeding and unsafe driving

Australia’s Advertising Standards Bureau has laid down the law and banned a Toyota Yaris commercial from airing on national TV, claiming the advertisement “promotes speeding and may influence people to speed which is very dangerous”.

During the 30-second advertisement, which promoted the entire Yaris family, three siblings are shown ‘racing’ on dirt roads to get to their parents’ home. For a brief moment, the 200 kW GR Yaris can be seen power sliding on a dirt road as it exits a garage. According to Car Advice, this short part of the video supposedly broke two advertising codes: breaking the speed limit and unsafe driving, resulting in the ad being pulled for TV.

In response, as reported by Car Throttle, Toyota said it “takes the opinion of the complaint very seriously. However, it is our belief that the advertisement does not contravene the FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) code or the applicable laws and regulations that govern community roads and driving standards.”

Following the response by Toyota, Australia’s Advertising Standards Bureau concluded that the ad did not promote ‘breaking the speed limit’ part of its regulations, but the fact that it broke traction on a dirt road did promote the idea of unsafe driving.

According to the report published by the Advertising Standards Bureau, “The Panel considered that the action of losing traction in the rear of the vehicle would be considered to be a loss of control of the vehicle.”

Toyota has since confirmed that it has taken steps towards modifying the Advertisement, and the original Advertisement was discontinued.

Take a look at the advertisement:

Picture: Screenshot from video