Discrepancies in media reporting of fatal road crashes and official data in India

Road traffic crashes pose a significant global public health challenge, influenced by media representations that shape public perceptions and policymaking. This study examines discrepancies between media-reported and officially documented fatal crash data to understand these differences and their impact on road safety. Utilising statistical comparisons and qualitative content analysis, the research contrasts fatal road traffic crash (RTC) data from India's Times of India (TOI) with official statistics from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH). Statistical analyses reveal that media reports disproportionately emphasise crashes involving younger victims and four-wheel vehicles, in contrast to official records identifying two-wheelers as the most affected road users. Additionally, visually dramatic crash types, such as head-on collisions and vehicle overturns, are significantly overrepresented in media coverage compared to their true frequency. Further content analysis of news articles illustrates inconsistent and often biased attribution of responsibility, frequently influenced by the victim's road user category. Vulnerable groups, particularly pedestrians and cyclists, are disproportionately blamed, whereas occupants of larger vehicles receive more detailed coverage with lesser attribution of crash responsibility. Importantly, media narratives frequently deviate from the World Health Organisation's recommendations, failing to highlight systemic and preventable aspects of RTCs. These findings highlight the critical need for media adherence to factual, balanced reporting guidelines to enhance public awareness and promote effective, evidence-based road safety interventions.