ASA confirms complaints over controversial taxi ad condemned by rape charity
The ASA has confirmed that it has received three complaints over an advert for a taxi firm that has been criticised by a rape charity for the way it shows a woman in distress.
The advertising watchdog told The Drum that the complaints – which say that the ad is offensive because it suggests the woman had been attacked and could have avoided that by using the advertiser’s taxi services – are currently being assessed.
A decision on whether or not to investigate the Data Cars ad is expected to be made next week.
Data Cars manager Les Chapman said: “The way we viewed the image, it is simply a girl who has gone out on a hot summer evening and the predicable British weather has opened the heavens and she got soaking wet.
“This is something we see every year and this year we decided to place an advertising campaign with this in mind.”