I wrote to the ASA concerning this advert

[dransfieldc123]

It is an advert advertising an automatic tailgate function on a Ford CMax and shows a small toddler going up behind a car looking for a toy and kicking the car to open the boot. I thought this was so dangerous as it could encourage copycat behaviour ,the ASA disagreed with me, What do others think ?
www.campaignlive.co.uk/news/1349585/

YANBU - the advert specifically shows a toddler standing behind the car and then kicking the boot to open it. Any small child with a fascination with cars could now be encouraged to try that, leading to them trying to get behind parked cars. With all the will in the world, accidents happen and if a toddler is insistent on doing something, particularly if they haven't verbalised it or if the parents haven't realised, then they will try it. I absolutely agree that this advert is irresponsible and could encourage children to stand behind parked cars. All it takes is for the driver not to realise and they've had it. The toddler in the advert is young so perhaps a child of that age might not even think about it, but older children might and they are just as at risk.

YABU and majorly overthinking it.

I think the OP has a point.

Toddler opening boot with parents there supervising isn't a major issue. Toddlers seeing this and thinking it's a good idea to wander behind parked cars and try to open the boot by themselves is a potential problem.

With the best will in the world, it isn't always possible to watch a child constantly - especially if the parent has another child with them too - and if a toddler too short to be seen through a rear window wanders behind a car to try and open the boot, then it's certainly possible for the driver to be unaware of their presence and reverse into them.

I've heard of cases where toddlers have been killed because they've been behind a reversing car, and the driver's been unaware that the toddler's there (as they're too short to be seen through the rear window) until they've actually run them over. It's fortunately rare, but it does happen occasionally.

There are now users popping up on this thread who can completely see where I was coming from, I only wish the ASA could have understood my argument also, sadness.

It must be hilarious sometimes working for the ASA and having to respond to madness some complaints

@ hedgehogs and the 'Grip Marketing Board'!