The phrase “maximum awareness through unease” certainly applies to this billboard. It seems possible that a speeding driver might not notice it in the haze of the pouring rain, but maybe the people who do see it will be reminded to slow the hell down.
On the other hand, it could just create an “Aw, cool!” or “Aw, sick!” reaction. If it generates fanboy attention, is a billboard like this doing its job?
Also… does anyone have a clue how you’d make a billboard like this? Where does the blood come from? And does it ever run out? And why does rain make the blood start pouring?
That last line could be the opening to a Marilyn Manson song.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Collin H // Jul 9, 2009 at 10:46 am
Best as I can figure out, its most likely operating like fountains at the mall, with either a moisture sensor or some kind of internet weather connection to tell it when to turn on the waterworks. I would assume that the red blood color is dye or something that needs to be replenished every so often.
And that DOES sound like a Manson lyric. Well played.
2 Amanda // Jul 9, 2009 at 12:43 pm
OMG, that is one horrific billboard. They always pick, like, the most beautiful, innocent-looking child in the country for these kinds of ads, don’t they?
I think it’s kind of clever. Even if the fanboy reaction is what happens, at least it means people are thinking about what happens on the road.
Also, I’ll definitely be having nightmares about that kid with the bleeding eyes tonight.
3 Seth Christenfeld // Jul 9, 2009 at 6:28 pm
My brain was filled with images of the billboard from the Simpsons episode with the Itchy and Scratchy movie.
My guess is that there’s some sort of small amount of coloring agent inside the billboard and that the water is collected via a trough on top…maybe? I don’t know. And I don’t think that I want to.
4 Stephanie D. // Jul 10, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Wow! That’s really kinda sick. I have such an aversion to even seeing blood, so that billboard would probably make me think. But, then again, it would probably make me think about pulling over and finding the nearest restroom.
It will be interesting to see if it has any correlation to less traffic related fatalities.
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