Abstract:

Seat belt using in traffic significantly reduces the risk of serious injury in potential traffic accidents. For this reason, legal regulations make it mandatory for drivers who use motor vehicles in traffic to wear seat belts. Sanctions are imposed on drivers who do not wear seat belts in traffic, and efforts are made to gain the habit of using seat belts. In addition, various public service announcements are prepared in order to raise awareness about the importance of using seat belts in traffic. The use of seat belts in traffic is sought to be encouraged through the visual and written indicators in these public service announcements. In this study, it was aimed to determine what kind of messages were given in the public service announcements prepared to encourage the use of seat belts in traffic. For this purpose, visual and written indicators in public service announcements prepared on the use of seat belts and traffic safety were analyzed through Louis Hjelmslev's Sign Model using the semiotic method in the context of traffic safety. The findings highlighted that messages in public service announcements were formed through the emphasis on death, injury and family. In the public service advertisements examined in this respect, it was concluded that people were encouraged to use seat belts in traffic by using emotional appeals such as fear appeal and sadness appeal.

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