A gruesome road safety campaign with mock-accident scenes which include blood-spattered fake limbs protruding from mangled cars has upset residents of Jeffrey's Bay, it was reported on Wednesday.
The display, which was set up by the police, a towing service and a taxi business, also showed an arm protruding from a grave, Beeld reported.
It featured car wrecks with the limbs of mannequins splattered with red paint to represent blood protruding from car windows, and a white cross and a grave topped by rocks, from where the 'arm' protrudes.
Warrant Officer Petra Els, of the Jeffrey's Bay police, said the campaign was a community-driven effort to raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol abuse.
“The project is not trying to upset people or fuel emotions, we want to drive home the reality of making a wrong decision,” she said.
The Kouga Municipality, under which the town of Jeffrey's Bay falls, said it would investigate the displays.
Municipal spokeswoman Laura-Lee Randal said she knew nothing about the campaign, and that no permission had been granted to display the car wrecks on municipal land.
“Although we agree with the message, the head of the traffic department will meet with the police to find a better way of conveying it to the public.” -Sapa