[Closed] Car 'crash' vs 'accident' - interesting debate...

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It's a traffic collision.

Yup, RTC is what it's called now.

brooess: how far out into the road were you?

The term 'accident' has never really been accurate use of language. It implies that the incident was inevitable regardless of the actions of those involved.

The problem is a physcological one.

Firstly, the 'average person' passes their driving test and then beleives that they are an 'excellent driver' and need not learn anything more about driving.

Secondly, this same person is also (in the Western World at least) a selfish individual in that their needs surpass others. So they have 'the right of way', or 'the other person should have been looking out for me' etc...

Thirdly, people look upon driving a car as an essential human right along with food and shelter.

Fourthly, because of the above no political party will dare to introduce actually effective measures to improve driving standards. Like tougher driving tests or periodic re-testing. It would alienate too many voters.

Instead, we get targeted campaigns on minority road users - such as cyclists. These, although in isolation seem good ideas actually have little effect on the whole.

two questions

1. was it preventable?
2. was it forseeable?

if the answer to either these two simple questions is 'yes' then it wasn't an accident

doesn't take a professor of tropical medicine to make a blidingly obvious and patronising statement to point that out!

Cynic-al. Primary position.
Narrow-ish country lanes but ones that are used as a quicker alternative than the main roads. I can see how people would have decided to 'take the risk' cos I was 'holding them up' and so few places to overtake.
Lost count of the number of people overtaking round blind bends, plenty of whom then had to cut in!
Although pleasantly surprised by the number of people who held back until they could see. They all got a wave of thanks.

Highclimber,

Actually, I think it does. It may seem obvious to you and me that thinking about and looking where you're going is basic driving / riding but there are many (licensed drivers) who find that action irrelevant.

Blind bend on my commute I am so far over to the right a car can almost undertake me - they want to go wrong side of the road on a blind bend then make then think about how daft this is ..I learnt this from experiences like yours. I am not having a dig I am offering advice.

The term 'accident' has never really been accurate use of language. It implies that the incident was inevitable regardless of the actions of those involved.

Really, I'd say that it implied that it was not a deliberate act - "an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury"

I mean, if you fall of your bike and break your leg, you say it was an accident don't you? even though it was your own actions/faults that led to the incident, its still an "accident".

I mean, if you fall of your bike and break your leg, you say it was an accident don't you? even though it was your own actions/faults that led to the incident, its still an "accident".

I use 'accident' to describe this in a tongue in cheek manner and I think most people do. The point the OP is trying to get across is when someone crashes their car into a group of cyclists/children/other vehicles the media, tv/ radio/paper, often use the word 'accident' to describe the incident which we all agree is the wrong adjective used in the wrong context.

I believe that the definition of accident (in occ. safety terms) is that of an unplanned occurrence that leads to physical, psychological harm or material loss.

On which case the term 'car accident' seems entirely reasonable.

Junkyard, no offence taken. I agree with being assertive and confident as a cyclist. It's because as a group not enough cyclists are, that IMO we are seen as 2nd class citizens.
On this particular road being too far out risks being taken out by cars coming the other way. Either because they're driving too fast for the corner, or they're pulling the opposite trick to the people who were passing me. Last time I rode down there I nearly was!