The evolution of human mobility has transformed the leading causes of mortality, with road traffic accidents (RTAs), resulting in a surge in injuries and fatalities. Recognizing this challenge, the World Health Organization (WHO) underscores the profound impact of RTAs on public health and human development. As a critical contemporary issue, RTAs intersect with complex societal, legal, and security frameworks, offering diverse perspectives within Portuguese jurisprudence. In this context, the public security police (PSP) plays a multifaceted role, including road safety prevention and maintenance. Road safety campaigns (RSCs), in Portugal, often lean towards rational approaches, with limited emotional elements. This study investigates the impact of emotional campaigns on Portuguese drivers. It was applied an adapted questionnaire, to investigate the influence of RSC on Portuguese drivers. The questionnaire comprised of three logical sections: viewing emotional and rational RSCs to gauge driver attitudes; assessment of the drivers’ perceptions of RSCs and driving behaviours, and sociodemographic data and driving habits. Questionnaires were administered at the traffic division of the public security police (PSP) in Lisbon, with RSCs videos shown randomly to 202 drivers, visiting in March, with a 51% response rate. Data analysis was rigorous, employing statistical techniques, including factor analysis, and non-parametric tests, ensuring methodological robustness. Findings suggest that emotional campaigns elicit stronger emotional responses, especially sadness and discomfort. While emotional campaigns exhibit potency in engaging drivers emotionally, their effectiveness in inducing behaviour changes and influencing citations is mixed.