In a first for Australia, Injury Matters has collaborated with the Road Safety Commission WA to launch the new Reporting Road Traffic Incidents Resource to support journalists, media professionals and media content creators to continue to grow a shared understanding of best practices while reporting on or sharing content relating to road traffic incidents.
Road traffic incidents are a frequent occurrence in Western Australia and place a significant burden on the WA community.
Held at Ambrose Estate, the resource was launched on Wednesday, 16 November 2022, while acknowledging the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
Injury Matters was joined by Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner, and lived experience presenter, Louise Clarke, to reflect on the effects of road trauma and how the media impacts the recovery journey.
Media personnel and road safety professionals have a powerful role in educating and driving societal change to improve safety outcomes. This resource seeks to support content creators and media consumers to produce or access potentially sensitive content safely.
Injury Matters supports accurate, rounded views on the prevalence and scale of road traffic incidents that further support improved road safety outcomes and shared responsibility for safety on our roads.
Promoting help-seeking information on road traffic reports and monitoring your own mental health when reporting on distressing incidents is vital to creating a safe media environment for all Western Australians.
Here are more photos from the launch:
Road Trauma Support WA is delivered by Injury Matters and funded by the Road Trauma Trust Account with contract management by the Road Safety Commission WA. If you or someone you know has been affected by road trauma, contact Road Trauma Support WA on 1300 004 814 or visit www.rtswa.org.au