Road safety remains one of the most overlooked public health crises of present time while the journalists can play a vital role in reshaping public understanding, said the experts at a workshop recently.
The Road Safety Reporting Workshop for Asian Journalists was held from November 3 to 5 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The workshop, jointly organised by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) and WHO under the Global Road Safety Agenda 2030, brought together 16 journalists from Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam to strengthen the media鈥檚 role in driving public awareness about road safety.
Angela Pratt, World Health Organisation country representative in Vietnam, while inaugurating the workshop said that too often road crashes are reported as isolated incidents, with blame placed on individual road users and this narrative makes road deaths seem unavoidable 鈥� or mostly the fault of individuals.
鈥楤ut they are not,鈥� she said, adding, 鈥楻oad crashes are a preventable public health crisis, with systemic causes and proven solutions.鈥�
Angela Pratt mentioned that each year, road crashes claim 1.2 million lives globally鈥攎ore than 3,200 people every day, while most victims are young people, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists.
Road crashes are the leading cause of death worldwide for children and youth aged 5 to 29, she continued.
鈥榃hile this is a global issue, the impact is especially severe in our own region 鈥� Asia bears more than half of this burden,鈥� the WHO representative said.
Angela also said that journalists can play a vital role in reshaping public understanding by uncovering root causes, highlighting effective responses, and challenging the notion that these tragedies are simply 鈥榓ccidents鈥�.
鈥榃hen we frame crashes as preventable, we build the political will and public support needed for change,鈥� she said, adding, 鈥楥ountries can then create systems that protect all road users鈥攅specially the most vulnerable.鈥�
Nhan Tran, WHO Safety and Mobility head, said that sustainable safety aims to optimize the interaction between road users, vehicles, and the road system鈥�. 聽
Tashi Tobgay, WHO regional adviser for disability, injury prevention and rehabilitation, stressed on designating a lead agency and establishing strong institutional and governance leadership to foster sound policies, legal framework, and collaborations鈥� for road safety.
WHO road safety programme consultant Matthew Taylor said that solutions journalism is an option for reporting on road safety which aims for truth, impartiality and better information.
At the workshop presentation was also given on using artificial intelligence in reporting.
Bloomberg Philanthropies director Kelly Larson, National Transport Safety Committee of Vietnam chief officer Tran Huu Minh, Centre for Injury Prevention and Policy Research, Hanoi University of Public Health director professor Pham Viet Cuong, and AIBD programme manager Nabeel Tirmazi also presented their presentations during the workshop.
