Road traffic incidents are a frequent occurrence in Western Australia and place significant burden on the whole WA community. Here’s your guide to improving your reporting practices for better outcomes.
Media Guidelines for Reporting Road Traffic Incidents
Injury Matters has developed ‘Reporting Road Traffic Incidents: A resource for the media and road safety sector‘ to support those working in the media to report road traffic incidents in a manner that is respectful to those impacted by road trauma and has a positive effect on road safety.
Journalists, reporters, editors, other media personnel and road safety professionals have a powerful role in educating and driving societal change. Injury Matters encourages everyone reporting on road traffic incidents in WA to consider their influence on their audiences and join us in reducing the impact of road trauma on the WA community.
Road traffic incidents don’t just happen. They are preventable.
Why are Guidelines for Reporting Road Traffic Incidents needed?
Negative or sensational framing of road traffic incidents affects not just audience attitudes but those involved in the incident – including first responders, families, friends, colleagues, and loved ones still dealing with the consequences. It can also affect you. These Guidelines are built to support your production but also your mental health while encompassing key topics of:
- Describing the road traffic incident,
- Language,
- Use of Imagery,
- Interviews and Consent,
- Comments from experts,
- Help-seeking information,
- Story prominence, and
- Looking after yourself.
We value those in the media working to inform our community and believe we can work together to improve how road crashes are regarded in WA.
Injury Matters are fortunate to provide support to people who are impacted by road trauma in WA and encourage you to reduce the impact of road trauma and support those affected by a road traffic incident by utilising this guide to report road traffic incidents in WA responsibly.