New guidelines have been released to help shape the language used when describing collisions on the roads. It’s claimed the advice could make roads safer.
Coordinated by the University of Westminster and backed by numerous organisations – including the AA and Transport for London – the Road Collision Reporting Guidelines follow on from similar documents advising the media on how to report on suicides and domestic abuse.
It is hoped the guidance ‘will do the same for road collisions, representing an industry standard by consensus that will continue to improve over time,’ said the University of Westminster.
Clauses in the guidance recommend that journalists, among other things, avoid use of the term ‘accident’, say ‘driver’ instead of ‘car’, and provide context to road collisions, rather than presenting them as isolated incidents.
A way with words
The group also advises journalists not to portray law-breaking or Highway Code contravention as acceptable, or to frame perpetrators as victims. It gives the example that speed cameras aren’t ‘targeting’ road users, or causing danger on the roads.
‘Speed is a major contributory factor in road collisions, serious injury and death on the roads and media attention for targeted enforcement of speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving can increase awareness of – and support for – those efforts,’ says the report.
“These guidelines are based on research and expert input. We know much good road collision reporting already exists and we hope that the guidelines will help spread this good practice,” said Professor Rachel Aldred.
“The research tells us that language matters, as it helps shape how we see and treat others. So, for instance, referring to drivers rather than only their vehicles helps remind us that behind every vehicle – be it a car, an HGV, a cycle or a motorcycle – is a person making decisions that affect the safety of others.”
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