Is the media misleading the public about the severity of transport problems?

This article looks at the influence of mass media on public perception of transport problems. Research has shown that people questioned believed that problems existed even when they were not themselves affected. Pressure groups, politicians, public authorities and researchers may have an interest in emphasising problems. Mass media reporting tends to be from the viewpoint of the car user but the views expressed are then adopted by non-car users also. Government policy decisions should therefore not be easily influenced by public opinion which is unstable.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09626220
• Authors:
  • FORSTER, A
• Publication Date: 2004-6-17

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p9
• Serial:
  • LOCAL TRANSPORT TODAY
  • Issue Number: 394
  • Publisher: LOCAL TRANSPORT TODAY
  • ISSN: 0962-6220

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash rates; Policy; Public relations; Publicity; Sociology; Traffic congestion; Transportation operations
• ITRD Terms: 1612: Accident rate; 632: Congestion (traffic); 1144: Operations (transp network); 173: Policy; 8575: Public relations; 8573: Publicity; 2253: Sociology
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Policy; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01012712
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Dec 21 2005 2:59PM