One of the main issues in the programming of traffic safety in the Netherlands is the role of the different authorities at all levels. What should be the contribution of the government and what are the responsibilities of the regional and local authorities in the marketing of traffic safety programmes? All three levels are focused on the `final user'. But in fact the final user is a complex and ingenious system of a great variety of users on all kind of levels with different degrees of concern and willingness of participation. And users are also and above influenced by intermediate groups (associations, et cetera). Networking is presented as a means of handling this complex reality in a way all the participants redefine their role and reconsider their contribution to traffic safety. Examples are presented of projects bringing the networking philosophy into practice on the national, regional and local level. Finally networking ("the art of being there") appears to be a sophisticated way in handling marketing strategies in such a way that cross-level transparency is achieved.
Abstract