Do the test...

[geoff m]

Have a look at this......

Once viewed, don't spoil it for others, although your expression of amazement can be recorded below!

Pass on to others. Use viral marketing!

http://www.dothetest.co.uk/

[geoff m]

By the way, I recommend you don't skip the intro...

[micklan]

....I got the number of balls and didn't fall off or hit any of the players

[FAswad]

this video was actually shown during an investigations course that I attended a while back. For the record, I got it correct.

[weiyun]

You would see the "bear" if you weren't instructed to focus on the white team.

So when you are driving, you would be aware of all the traffic on the street including bikes, but not see that bikini clad blond walking on the side walk, right?

[Toff]

I'm not really all that keen on this one.

Yes, it's clever, and yes it makes people all too aware that their senses can play tricks on them, but that's just the point.

I can only see 2 ways to interpret this advert:

1) See it and not get tricked, which effectively tells the viewer: "You're obviously too smart for this silly game. You don't need to pay more attention to cyclists because you're already ultra observant." A viewer may even feel that he can be less vigilent on the road after passing this test.

2) See it and get tricked, which effectifely tells the viewer: "We tricked you. We're clever and you're stupid, so you better watch out for cyclists." I'm no psychologist, but I suspect people will instinctively put up a mental barrier to a message delivered in this way. You don't win arguments by ridiculing your opponent.

So, in my opinion, neither outcome is going to result in heightened cyclist awareness. Give the viewer a laugh, or make 'em feel guilty or ashamed with some statistics, but don't insult them...