The National Motorists Association today defended the right of car companies to advertise their products and labelled calls by insurance company funded group the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) "a silly attack of political correctness".

"We see nothing wrong with companies advertising cars using imaginative or motor sport inspired commercials. Do they really think the Australian public cannot discern the difference between fantasy and reality?" Mr Bates, President of the NMAA said today.

Toyota has won numerous recognition awards for dynamic advertising. It is also widely considered to be a responsible manufacturer - including environmentally responsible. Indeed the launch of its Prius "green car" is scheduled to commence next week. However a recent Corolla ad has come under fire.

Toyota responded quickly pulling the ad itself to ensure there was no problem. The ad which was criticised by car insurance group the Australian Automobile Association and Harold Screwby's Pedestrian Council as being irresponsible. It featured a Corolla engaging in playful behaviour and speeding on a quiet country road. The Pedestrian Council also took the opportunity to slam the Advertising Standard Bureau stating that the ad was "an example of their incompetence."

National Motorists Association Australia Inc. president Michael Bates responded today pointing out that the same criticisms could apply to anti-speeding ads put out by the authorities. "I doubt that a light hearted TV commercial showing a car used in a way which highlights performance will result in copying by drivers.

Wouldn't people be more likely to copy a serious ad such as those put out by authorities? How many times have we seen pedestrians slaughtered by cars aiming for them and locking their brakes? The contrived road-safety advertisements that purport to show reality yet are wildly exaggerated for effect are far more dangerous to the public.

Perhaps the most dangerous of these are the ones that attempt to prove that braking distance is the sole determinant of safe speed. "The scenario manufactured for 50km/hr versus 60km/hr could just as easily be calculated for 20km/hr versus 40km/hr, it's quite ludicrous." he said.

"We would argue that these commercials lead people to believe that (a) locking your brakes is the most effective way to stop. (b) there is no need to try to use the steering wheel to avoid the crash. (c) driver reaction times of 1.5 to 2 seconds are acceptable. All of these ideas are of course quite false, yet are imprinted on the viewing public time and again." "When people stop swerving around pedestrians we'll see an explosion of pedestrian casualties." said Mr Bates