Road Safety Education, Training and Publicity (ETP) are a group of activities that are usually provided by local authority road safety teams. Other bodies, such as road safety partnerships also run road safety ETP projects. In general terms, the different elements of ETP are defined as follows:
Education
Education is a broad based activity, which usually takes place in schools and other educational establishments. It deals with ideas and concepts such as hazard perception and management of personal risk in relation to the road environment, and the development of coping strategies. It also includes development of an individual's understanding of, and attitudes towards, their responsibilities to other road users. It is a gradual process, which may take place over a number of years. Education can include things such as delivering road safety lessons with children or workshops with teenagers and adults.
Publicity
Publicity is designed to provide information, raise awareness, give advice on appropriate behaviour, and thereby change attitudes towards a particular issue. It can also reinforce positive attitudes and behaviour learned through education and training. Examples include the use of flyers, social media and TV or radio advertisements.
Training
Training is mostly concerned with creating or developing practical skills and delivery is generally short term in duration. Examples include learner or advanced driver training.
All three elements aim to alter or influence behaviour, and to encourage a positive attitude in road users, which will contribute to a safer environment for all.
As well as providing its own distinct benefits, Road Safety ETP supports and complements the other strands of a local authority road safety strategy: Engineering and Enforcement. It is often used in conjunction with road safety engineering schemes, for example to raise awareness, understanding and support of a 20 mph zone, and enforcement campaigns, for example, giving driving offenders the opportunity to take a National Driver Improvement course.