In Fribourg, Switzerland, drivers going too fast will get a warning from a real-life angel, thanks to a new campaign.
There are few drivers who can honestly say they’ve never driven above the speed limit. Maybe you’re late for work, or rushing to pick your daughter up from day care, or you’re just distracted. But when you go too fast, accidents are far more likely to happen—and Switzerland’s come up with a novel campaign to remind speeders of the dangers of driving too fast.
In the Swiss state of Fribourg, drivers going above the limit may receive a warning from a real-life angel: a man dressed in white, complete with a set of wings, who waves at drivers who are going too fast. Drivers will likely recognize him as a real-life counterpart to an angel in a safe-driving TV commercial, who is hit by a car pulling out of a garage too quickly. The angel has been hired by the state police department to work 20 hours a week until at least October.
True, the police department could focus their resources on pulling over speeding drivers, but they believe the angel creates a greater impact that they can make on their own. “To have a physical presence like that makes the message more visible, and it’s out of the ordinary,” police spokesman Benoît Dumas told AOL News.
It’s too early to tell if the angel is actually preventing accidents on the dangerous mountain roads, but he’s definitely got people talking. And if the plan goes well, there’s no telling how long the Road Angel may keep guard on Fribourg’s roads.
“After all, you know, angels are eternal,” said Dumas.