How linguistic patterns obscure responsibility in newspaper coverage of traffic crashes in German-speaking countries: an interdisciplinary study

In this interdisciplinary study, we examine how linguistic patterns in newspaper coverage of traffic crashes in German-speaking countries (Austria, Germany and Switzerland) obscure responsibility and perpetuate systemic biases. Through a content analysis of 229 articles, the research highlights the prevalence of linguistic constructions including passive voice, metonymy, and reflexive verbs, that shift responsibility for crashes from motor vehicle drivers to pedestrians and cyclists. The findings reveal that, as in other language contexts, traffic crashes are often framed as isolated, inevitable events, downplaying systemic issues such as infrastructure and policy. Linking these patterns to public perceptions of responsibility, we underscore their potential to hinder support for safety-oriented mobility reforms. Based in part on the results, we suggest changes in journalistic practices and have developed guidelines to foster equitable and accurate reporting, with implications for advancing safer and more sustainable mobility systems.