Life in the Fast Lane

Faces of Death II

May 1981 •English

Brief scenes of death related material: mortuaries, accidents and police work are filmed by TV crews and home video cameras. Some of it is most likely fake, some not as much.

The Accident

December 2020 •Hebrew

Omri reunites his family for a drive to the desert. Facing his camcorder, he'll ask them to recollect the drive and fatal car accident they had on the way to his Bar Mitzvah. An accident that led to his parent’s divorce.

The Attitude Factor

March 1981 •English

A 1981 educational film about the perils of school bus drivers having a bad attitude while on the job. Follow Barbara, a model employee... until she developed a bad attitude and let it effect her job performance.

Yarik vive

July 2021 •Spanish

Mr. Death

June 2016 •Norwegian

An exclusive interview with Death as he goes about his everyday business.

A & E: When Patients Attack

January 2015 •English

Hospital staff are reporting more violence and anti-social behaviour than ever before. In 2015, 8 staff were assaulted every hour – a new record high. At The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham – one of the UK’s biggest hospitals – they think they have the answer. Here a private security force of 46 uniformed guards, and a sophisticated CCTV system, keep staff and patients safe. A colourful mixture of characters ranging from ex-soldiers, to bouncers, to former elite sportsmen, it’s the security team’s job to keep the hospital running smoothly. With more than 2 million visitors they have to deal with all aspects of crime and anti-social behaviour. All against a back drop of life changing and life saving procedures.

Okamih rozhoduje

January 1953 •Slovak

Memento

December 1968 •English

Experimental short film about car wreckage and automobile safety.

101 Near Misses

October 2020 •English

From heart-stopping close shaves and averted disasters to incredible brushes with danger, this show counts up from 1 to 101 to feature some of the most unbelievable near misses of all time.

Dad... Can I Borrow the Car?

September 1970 •English

A live-action short, using many avant-garde film techniques, that looks at American car culture in the late 1960s. The main section deals with the many trials and obstacles a teenager must face on the path to being able to drive. Surviving the driver's education class is only the first step, as the teenager must then pass his driving test, and then finally get permission to borrow the family car.

Hell's Highway: The True Story of Highway Safety Films

June 2003 •English

This film covers the early history of post World War II educational films, especially those involving traffic safety by the Highway Safety Foundation under direction of Richard Wayman. In the name of promoting safe driving in teenagers, these films became notorious for their gory depiction of accidents to shock their audiences to make their point. The film also covers the role of safety films of this era, their effect on North American teenage culture, the struggle between idealism and lurid exploitation and how they reflected the larger society concerns of the time that adults projected onto their youth.

Humboldt: The New Season

August 2019 •English

A devastating highway accident in April 2018 thrust Humboldt, Saskatchewan into an international spotlight and voices from across the globe responded with sorrowful condolences, vigils and tributes. As the shock subsided and the world stepped back allowing the community to grieve, the directors of Humboldt: The New Season remained near the families. This is a story of healing without ever forgetting or letting go.

Nevíme dne...

January 1946 •Czech

Suddenly...And Without Warning

April 1971 •English

Coast Guard film about the importance of life jackets. Stresses safety in boating and shows how boating accidents can happen.

The Mystery Crash

May 1974 •English

“The Mystery Crash” discusses the dangers of drinking and driving especially as it pertains to the seemingly harmless “social drinker.” This film was produced by Jack Lieb Productions Inc, Chicago and sponsored by the National Safety Council. It is part of a series of films, with each episode describing a different element of driving and road safety.

Alcohol and Red Flares

April 1973 •English

This driver’s education film from the early 1970s, "Alcohol and Red Flares", warns viewers of the dangers of drunk driving. It recounts the story of a man named “Mike” who drinks heavily at a party, and insists on driving home. The consequences are steep and along the way, viewers learn about Blood Alcohol Level (also known as BAC or Blood Alcohol Content), techniques police use to verify a driver’s inebriation such as the breathalyzer, and the reasons why driving drunk is so dangerous. This film was produced by legendary social guidance filmmaker Sid Davis in cooperation with the Monterey Park Police Department.

Decade of Death

August 1971 •English

This highway scare film produced by the Highway Safety Foundation in 1971, "Decade of Death", is a retrospective of the organization's 10 years of gory, shocking social guidance films which aimed to promote traffic safety and driver responsibility through the display of bloody and horrific footage of traffic crashes.The Highway Safety Foundation made driver scare films such as "Signal 30," "Mechanized Death," and "Highways of Agony" that intended to encourage drivers to drive responsibly and with consideration of the risks and consequences. It was the organization's belief that crash footage, while horrific, was the best way to convey the importance of driving safely.

The Iron Graveyard

July 1976 •English

This color educational film is a driver's safety film about city driving. There is no copyright at the beginning or end of the film so the date of the production appears to be the mid to late 1970s.

The Gambler

July 1950 •English

This late 1940s/early 1950s rather graphic color film about carelessness and safety operating heavy machinery is presented by Caterpillar.

Your Chance to Live: Flood

June 1973 •English

Dramatizes the plight of a young adventure seeker whose canoe is capsized by a wall of water during a flood. Shows community flood preparations, pointing out that a flood's predictability usually allows ample warning time to save lives. Designed to stimulate discussion on civil preparedness for floods