Signal 30

What can I say, "Signal 30" is the benchmark of what was over the next 25 odd years to follow in the course of the life of "Drivers Ed" films.

Designed to shock teenagers and adults alike into being better and more competent drivers, by showing them death after death after death, and narrated with sarcastic quips about the burned and crushed bodies "This is the final exit for all concerned" etc they do not make for easy viewing and they are not meant to be.

Clinical and precise this is what happens when you are involved in a fatal crash, those are the sounds of people in their death throws, screaming and begging for help, it is as brutal as it gets and total unapologetic, every learner driver should see this film. Followed by "Mechanized Death" "The Last Prom" and numerous others

It's not that gruesome as it appears to be: a series of car accidents, sure, but we've seen all of that before; however, the thing which keeps it shocking is the gruesome background information the talkshow host is informing us of, thereby making us identify with the victims and,once again, believe we are equal to their same situation... It is here, though, that Hollywood very keenly pulls our leg again: we don't know what the narrator is telling us is true, but we assume it to be; likewise, we assume on similar accounts that the Germans were the enemy during the second world war, but who might say for sure?? When we believe the words of the leading man in this documentary we will feel awful at its ending: but never forget all is equal to one big love. Who cares about traffic accidents!?! Well, if you listen to the words of this man and accept them as the truth, than you will. But is it worth it??!

Signal 30 (1959)

*** (out of 4)

There was a couple decade period where educational films were made and shown to kids and teens in hopes that they would scare them into doing things "the right way." A lot fo these films haven't aged well and they contain really bad acting, awful dialogue and are so poorly made that you can't take them serious. SIGNAL 30 is not that film.

No, this educational film attempts to tell you to drive safety by showing some very bad crashes including several dead bodies. There's no question that this here is one of the most grim educational shorts out there as more times than not they were full of fake images and situations but this one here goes for the real stuff so some viewers will be timid of what is shown here.

The film certainly isn't a masterpiece but you have to respect its brutal and honest look at what can happen if you're not paying attention to road. People driving through stop signs, falling asleep or not following over rules of the road are discussed yet a seat belt is never brought up.

Signal 30 shocked everyone everywhere it was shown,and as such is one of the most remembered of the breed.Great detail in each crash is given to describe what went wrong.Two fiery crashes end in the occupants being burnt to a crisp (very gruesome).A young trucker crushed against the steering wheel/dash because he was travelling too fast for the road....a young father crushed in the door of his 55 Pontiac...overall its very sad.Future films raised the bar up,but Signal 30 set the tone for all the rest.May all the victims shown rest in peace,and may their deaths not be in vain.Lets hope at least one life was saved by viewing these horrific scenes....the original intent of the films producers.

I saw this film in its entirety in the 1960s & 70s, yes it IS gruesome, and could be the progenitor of the "Faces of Death" series popular in the 80s & 90s. Considering the state of so-called "driver education" these days, this one should be required viewing for everyone preparing to learn to drive. When you see violent death in all its gore & horror, you certainly (if you have any sensibility at all) get a truer perspective on the responsibilities required to drive safely, what one instant of thoughtlessness or inattentiveness at the wheel can do. I worked for Bell Telephone in the 70s & 80s, and at one point was assigned to conduct a safety class. I found this film in the company library, showed it at the session, a number of people got physically sick and had to leave the room! Incredibly, most of them later said "I never knew a car accident could be so terrible!" This film, and another, "RED ASPHALT", is certainly reality in its most graphic form. I'll never forget it, I only wish I could have found a copy when my children were attending "driver's ed" in high school!