Ha, these modern PSAs have nothing on the Public Information Films of the 1970's.
Oh the horror!
The best (worst?) on was a 30 minute feature film that was like a darker version of Final Destination:
I don't quite know why these films were so grim. Was it because the 70's were that grim and the films captured life, were the film makers purposely trying to install common sense through fear, were they oblivious to how these film would be perceived, or did they just not give a shit about perception beyond the core message of the film?
It's strange, but the more modern, more graphic Public Information Films, like the one with the zombie girl or the numerous other driving campaigns with shocking, sudden and graphic impacts, don't effect me as much as the older ones from the 70's. I don't know whether it's because I'm somewhat desensitised to graphic violence (especially when seeing it filmed with modern techniques and digital equipment), or whether the lack of graphic violence and poorer, more primitive filming equipment and techniques lend the films of the 70's a darker and more horrifying atmosphere.