a method for filtering infrastructure description messages packed in data packages , the messages being transmitted in a vehicular ad hoc network , along with positional information messages for the localisation of individual participating nodes , in order to describe the status of the vehicular ad hoc network and / or a street on which the participating nodes are located . the method includes the following steps : receiving one of the infrastructure description messages at a participating node ; evaluating the received infrastructure description message as to whether a response is required ; and filtering the evaluated infrastructure description message based on a predetermined criterion for whether a response is required .