Crikey!

Health and safety has gone mad in this 1947 comedic guide to road safety in Bradford city centre.

This amusing silent road safety film made in 1940s Bradford harkens back to the slapstick silent comedies of old, but also has a valuable educational edge. Stunt men enact a mixture of dangerous and humorous acts for the watching crowds. An equal mixture of education and entertainment is the target of this activity and film.

Road safety was seen as a significant area of concern for the British government after the end of the Second World War. During the war, there had been a sharp increase in fatalities from road accidents, due largely to the implementations of black-outs at night. By the end of the 1940s, over 1,100 road safety committees were set up throughout the country. In addition to this, the cycling proficiency scheme was introduced in 1947, the same year that Crikey! was released.