New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has set out to shift the perception of seat belts from an optional accessory to a life-saving necessity by using images of real-life crash survivors in its new campaign.<\/p>\n
NZTA put a call out for real Kiwi men with their own stories of survival, thanks to a seat belt. Hundreds responded, and ten were chosen to step in front of the camera to have their real injuries recreated and their stories shared.<\/p>\n
The men\u2019s injuries vary, but all ten are united by the mark of their seat belt: a short-term physical bruise, or sometimes scar, that has had a long-lasting impact on their lives. A physical reminder that they made the right call to wear a seat belt and survived because of it.<\/p>\n
The survivors provided personal photos taken in the days after their crashes to help ensure the injuries were recreated as accurately as possible. The special effects make-up team worked closely with Dr. Natasha McKay, an Emergency Medicine Specialist who lent her expertise to the campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cA seat belt really does leave a mark like this,\u201d she said. \u201cThey will save your life, but they will leave a mark to show how they\u2019ve done it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The images are displayed on billboards near carparks of bars and pubs in towns around NZ, in particular, in the areas where the featured survivors live.<\/p>\n