Driving Change: The WHO Road Safety Reporting Contest 2026 is Open!

Hey there, fellow storytellers! As journalists, we often cover disasters, politics, and breaking news. But sometimes, the most critical stories are the slow-moving, everyday tragedies that don't always grab the front page: road safety. Globally, road traffic crashes claim millions of lives and injure tens of millions more annually. This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a public health crisis.

That’s precisely why the World Health Organization (WHO) launched its prestigious Road Safety Reporting Contest. Now, as we look toward 2026, the stakes are higher than ever. The WHO Road Safety Reporting Contest 2026 is calling for compelling, data-driven journalism that goes beyond the accident scene and explores the solutions.

If you have a passion for investigative reporting and want your work to genuinely save lives, this contest is your platform. We need stories that inspire action, enforce accountability, and highlight successful interventions in road safety policy.

The 2026 contest isn't just about winning an award; it's about amplifying the global mission to halve the number of traffic fatalities and injuries by 2030, a key target within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Let’s dive into what makes this year’s contest truly special and how you can prepare your winning entry.

Why Road Safety Needs Your Voice: A Journalist’s Perspective

I remember covering a story years ago about a high-speed collision involving a scooter and a truck. The young woman on the scooter, a university student, lost her life instantly. What struck me wasn't just the immediate tragedy, but the systemic failure surrounding it: poorly lit roads, inadequate speed limit enforcement, and a lack of safe cycling infrastructure.

That experience changed how I view road safety reporting. It moved from being a simple crime beat report to a story about urban planning, governance, and public health. The WHO understands this shift. They aren’t looking for reports that simply describe carnage; they are looking for reporting that diagnoses the root causes and showcases innovative solutions.

The greatest stories have impact. Road safety reporting allows journalists to be true advocates for vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists—who are disproportionately affected in low and middle-income countries. Your reporting can influence policy makers, push for safer vehicle standards, and drive demand for sustainable transport options.

Think about the stories you can tell that focus on prevention, not just post-crash response. Have local authorities successfully implemented a "Vision Zero" strategy? Is there a community campaign effectively reducing drunk driving incidents? These are the narratives that resonate with the WHO’s mission.

The 2026 focus will put a significant emphasis on stories that connect road safety to broader environmental and climate goals, recognizing that better urban mobility planning benefits everyone.

Decoding the 2026 Contest: Themes, Eligibility, and Submission Guidelines

To ensure your entry stands out among submissions from around the globe, it’s crucial to adhere strictly to the guidelines and focus your narrative on the core themes identified by the WHO. This is where journalistic excellence meets public health urgency.

Key Thematic Areas for 2026 Submissions:

The judging panel will prioritize stories that explore the following solution-oriented areas:

• Safe Infrastructure and Urban Design: Reports focusing on cycle lanes, pedestrian walkways, and public transit that reduce reliance on private vehicles and decrease exposure to risk.
• Speed Management and Enforcement: Investigative pieces detailing effective speed camera deployment, lower urban speed limits (e.g., 30 km/h zones), and community impact.
• Post-Crash Care and Response: Stories highlighting improvements in emergency medical services, trauma care systems, and the long-term support for crash survivors and affected families.
• Vehicle Safety Standards: Reporting on the importance of regulatory frameworks for mandatory safety features (like airbags and electronic stability control) in all new vehicles, especially in emerging markets.
• Vulnerable Road Users: Deep dives into specific risks faced by children, the elderly, and motorcycle riders, coupled with evidence-based strategies for protection.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

The WHO Road Safety Reporting Contest welcomes professional journalists and journalism students worldwide. Submissions must meet specific criteria regarding publication date and originality.

• The work must have been published or broadcast between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025.
• Entries can be submitted in various formats: print, online articles, radio broadcasts, television segments, podcasts, or multimedia submissions.
• All non-English entries must be accompanied by a high-quality, professional English translation.
• Entries must clearly demonstrate an emphasis on policy solutions and public health impact, not just accident reporting.

Remember, the contest aims to promote impactful, data-driven journalism. Use statistics from reliable sources (like WHO data) to anchor your narrative, but always humanize those statistics through compelling personal stories.

What Judges Are Looking For: Beyond the Headline

Winning this contest requires more than just a well-written piece; it demands depth, originality, and actionable insight. The judges—a panel of global road safety experts, veteran journalists, and public health officials—use a stringent scoring rubric.

They are fundamentally looking for entries that showcase strong data journalism. Simply reporting that crashes are high isn't enough; you must investigate *why* and demonstrate *what works* to fix it.

Three Pillars of a Winning Entry:

1. Depth and Rigor (Investigative Quality): Did the journalist go beyond press releases? Did they interview diverse stakeholders, including victims, policy makers, and traffic engineers? Is the analysis thorough, exploring economic costs and social burdens?
2. Impact and Relevance (Solution Orientation): Does the story offer specific, actionable recommendations? Does it hold power structures accountable? Has the reporting led to tangible change (if possible, include evidence of impact)? This shift toward solutions journalism is crucial.
3. Clarity and Presentation (Technical Excellence): Is the narrative engaging? Is the multimedia presentation high-quality? Is the language accessible to a broad audience, translating complex engineering or legal concepts into plain English?

One common mistake in road safety reporting is focusing too much on individual driver error. While important, the WHO encourages reporting that looks at the "system" failures—the design of the road, the lack of effective public transport, or poor political commitment. Shifting the focus from blaming the victim to reforming the system is the mark of high-level road safety journalism.

By framing your story around concepts like the Safe System approach, you show the judges that you understand the modern context of global road safety strategies.

The Road Ahead: Building a Legacy of Safe Mobility

The deadline for the WHO Road Safety Reporting Contest 2026 will typically fall in early 2026, usually around February or March, allowing time for submissions published late in 2025. Keep a close watch on the official WHO media channels for the exact date and submission portal links.

As we move closer to 2030, the global spotlight on road safety reporting will only intensify. The stories you tell today form the foundation for policy changes tomorrow. Winning this contest provides significant international recognition, networking opportunities, and a powerful platform to further your career in advocacy journalism.

Start scoping out your stories now. Look for local innovations that deserve global attention. Investigate persistent safety failings that have been overlooked. Use your journalistic skills to shine a light on the path toward safer, more sustainable mobility for everyone, everywhere.

This is your chance to contribute to a genuine global health movement. Good luck, and happy reporting!