Captivating Connections.

texting while driving to be (potentially) illegal?

I've seen some PSAs regarding texting and driving, but it looks like people are taking it to the next step: Bringing the law in...

"Nearly all Americans say sending a text message while driving should be illegal, and about half say texting while behind the wheel should be punished at least as harshly as drunken driving, according to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll.

'If you’re going to drive, drive; if you want to talk or text, pull over to the side of the road,' Constance Drake, 71, of Toms River, N.J., said in a follow-up interview.

Ninety-seven percent support the prohibition of texting while driving, an unusual level of agreement for any topic. Eighty percent also support a ban on talking on a hand-held cellphone while driving.

Fifty percent said the punishment for texting while driving should be just as severe as for drunken driving."

it's official, people...

...GM filed for bankruptcy on this morning.

So now what?

"With the filing, G.M. follows its crosstown rival Chrysler in bankruptcy. And G.M. hopes that it can move as swiftly in its reorganization. Chrysler, which sought court protection on April 30, could emerge in the next few days; a bankruptcy judge in New York gave approval on Sunday night for most of its assets to be acquired by Fiat, a decision that President Obama hailed on Monday morning.

'Chrysler has a new lease on life,' Mr. Obama said in a statement. 'We said this process would be completed quickly and efficiently, and that’s exactly what has been accomplished today.'

The bankruptcy of General Motors culminates a remarkable four months of confrontation between Washington and Detroit that is expected to result in a drastic downsizing of the company. It also places the government in uncharted territory as a business owner, as it takes a majority ownership stake in the company during its restructuring."

r.i.p. chrysler.

"Chrysler LLC filed for bankruptcy Thursday. But a deal has been reached to combine the company with Fiat in order to allow Chrysler to stay in business.

The bankruptcy filing, which was made in federal court in New York, comes after some of Chrysler's smaller lenders refused a Treasury Department demand to reduce the amount of money the troubled automaker owed them."

it's getting bad out there.

This is both sad and scary:

"Chrysler said late today it will shut down all its plants at the end of the last shift on Dec. 19, with factory workers not back to work before Jan. 19. Despite that, the automaker will continue some current marketing efforts. Both Ford and GM have made similar moves.

The automaker cited 'the continued lack of consumer credit for the American car buyer and the resulting dramatic impact it has had on overall industry sales in the United States' for the shutdown of its factories."

that's one way of doing it...

“Hoping to drive business despite soaring gas prices, Hertz is turning its rental car fleet into a marketing vehicle. The No. 2 rental car company is putting ads on hanging mirror tags, trunk liners and ticket jackets to bring in more revenue. It also plans to give away free product samples to customers. Although advertising will amount to just a fraction of overall sales, Hertz is squeezing out ad dollars at a time when the entire car rental industry is under pressure. With gas and airline costs going up, wallet-conscious consumers are curtailing summer travel.”NY Post

WWJD (what would job do?)

Job Blueth would be excited.

facing your fears.

It’s pretty much a given that you usually need gas to run a car, right? Therefore, with gas prices being as astronomically high as they are, you’d think it would be a point automakers would shy away from.

 

Not GM.

 

Apparently they are addressing the oil issue head on, in a refreshing and sassy way.

 

Great idea.

ads + your car = future?

Here's an interesting article from Steve Rubel looking at the idea of 'why your car may soon be driving digital advertising'.

There's a lot of great stuff he mentions that is both happening now and coming soon. Check it out, it gives a level of perspective on how ads are permeating parts of life we never thought they would/could, and how you can control them to engage consumers in the RIGHT way.

a green partnership with drive. literally.

How cool is this?

"General Motors will be the exclusive automotive sponsor of the first TV network to be exclusively devoted to environmental issues. The Discovery Communications Planet Green, a 24-hour eco-lifestyle network, launches June 4."

'"It's a great way for GM to educate and inform consumers about all we are doing in the area of sustainable transportation," said Betsy Lazar, executive director, GM advertising and media operations, in a release. "Planet Green programs will attract consumers who also want to know what GM has to offer in terms of fuel-efficient cars and trucks, hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles.'"

And she is right! It's all about partnerships that make sense, people.

introducing fusion marketing.

"Christian Slater’s split personality in an NBC fall drama will drive two GM cars. Christian Slater plays a split personality at odds with himself in NBC’s “My Worst Enemy” this fall, but two silent co-stars—General Motors cars driven by his two personas—are yet to be cast.Those unnamed 2009 GM models are certain to appear in the fall drama as part of a deal that plays a central role in larger cross-platform marketing plans between NBC and GM. Along with the product integration, the deal includes GM buying on-air spots, a presence on NBCU digital platforms and outside promotion activities not yet delineated. GM says it doesn’t yet know which of its 2009 models will play the roles in “My Worst Enemy.” But one will be a minivan, consistent with one of Slater’s two personalities: a middle-class efficiency expert living the suburban life with a wife, two kids and a dog. His other persona, an agent provocateur trained to kill with his teeth, will undoubtedly drive something a bit racier. In any case, GM is pleased to snag the parts in the early script development phase. “The vehicle integration is natural since we’re getting in a little early with the creative,” GM spokesperson Kelly Cusinato said. The larger strategic partnership between GM and NBC revolves around other primetime and late night shows. The network struck the deal with the automaker during its April “infront” meetings which preceded the annual “upfront” network programming pitches by six weeks. GM dubs the early involvement in NBC’s creative process “fusion marketing,” a marketing strategy it’s looking to employ in other deals."

- PROMO Xtra