South Dakota Pulls ‘Don’t Jerk and Drive’ Campaign
The South Dakota Department of Highway Safety’s “Don’t Jerk and Drive” campaign was a pundit’s wet dream.
New York Magazine‘s Jessica Roy (“South Dakota Yanks ‘Don’t Jerk and Drive’ Ad Campaign“) has some fun with her report:
South Dakota has yanked its “Don’t Jerk and Drive” ad campaign for reasons that are totally obvious to anyone who’s ever been 13 years old: It’s reminiscent of the (disturbingly popular) pastime of masturbating while driving.
The PSAs, plastered on billboards around the state, were supposed to “grab the attention of drivers” and jack up interest in the dangers of navigating snowy roads. Though the Office of Highway Safety took a purposeful whack at double entendre, some believed the ads might rub people the wrong way and become a driving distraction. The campaign was yanked prematurely by the Department of Public Safety, which said it doesn’t “want innuendo to pull focus for the main message of saving lives on the road.”
So much for that stroke of genius. Now the Department of Highway Safety is left with a pretty sticky PR mess to clean up.
As a general rule, government agencies shouldn’t try to be funny.
That could be a bigger problem with straight drive and a stick shift.
I think someone is pulling our chain
That’s right up there with Check Yo Nutz!
Too many puns in the original article. I, for one, won’t be sharing this post. I refuse to have a hand in stroking this author’s ego and giving him a big head.
True. But in this case they nailed it.
It might bring a whole new dimension to the term “leaving rubber.”
ok so if jerking in this case does not referring to masterbation what activity are they actually describing?
@Rick DeMent:On second thought, “Don’t Jerk and Drive” was too risque for the state of South Dakota.
That public safety campaign, intended to raise awareness about the dangers of jerking the steering wheel on icy roads, played on the double meaning of the word “jerk,” which can also be a euphemism for masturbation. Officials admitted to the Argus Leader that the double entendre was intentional.
Still doesn’t beat the Rosie Ledet, You can Eat My Poussiere double entendre.
Anyone from the DC area might remember the Mike&Mike show where they encouraged women to call in and “stir the soup” while on the air.