Mass-media information campaigns about road safety. [previously known as: Public information about road safety.]

In the Netherlands, public information is often used as an instrument to improve road safety. The purpose of each public information campaign is a voluntary and lasting change in traffic behaviour. This requires road users to have sufficient knowledge about a problem and to adapt their behaviour. Good preparation is essential for a maximally effective public information campaign. Research plays an important role in determining the content and campaign method, as well as in developing the evaluation. The more road users relate to a problem, the more effective a public information campaign will be, especially when it involves behaviour that is easily adapted. Public information campaigns are most likely to influence behaviour when they are combined with police enforcement, rewards, or other behaviour modification methods. Even if a public information campaign does not directly influence behaviour, it can be useful through its role in placing a problem on the social agenda. Social media like Facebook, Hyves and Twitter offer new possibilities for mass-media campaigns. However, the advantages of a large audience, great appreciation and the possibilities of interactive use can also be a disadvantage because people can add information unchecked. This may result in conflicting information or too much information