Blaming Cyclists, Invisibilising Drivers: How Motonormativity Shapes Swiss Media Collision Reports

Media reports of collisions both reflect and shape public understanding of road safety. This paper analyses 204 Swiss newspaper articles reporting collisions between car drivers and cyclists. Our analysis shows that these reports reproduce discursive biases rooted in motonormativity. Cyclists are placed at the center of the narrative, while motorists are either omitted or reduced to their vehicles. Passive voice, non-agentive phrasing, and objectifying language implicitly shift blame towards cyclists. Systemic causes are rarely mentioned. Making these biases visible is essential for challenging motonormativity and reframing collisions in ways that promote safer, fairer, and more human-centered mobility.