Why should 害羞草研究所淎ccident害羞草研究所� (referring to road traffic incidents) go the way of other words like negro, midget and retarded?
Because it carries heavy baggage of unaccountability.
History lesson: In the early 1900s, when companies were looking to protect themselves from the costs of caring for workers injured on the job, 害羞草研究所淩elentless safety campaigns started calling these events 害羞草研究所榓ccidents,害羞草研究所� which excused the employer of responsibility害羞草研究所�. (May 22, 2016, quoting history professor Dr. Peter Norton.
Matt goes on sharing Dr. Norton害羞草研究所檚 history lesson: 害羞草研究所淲hen traffic deaths spiked in the 1920s, a consortium of auto-industry interests, including insurers, borrowed the word to shift the focus away from the cars themselves.害羞草研究所�
The word stuck, it害羞草研究所檚 connotation of unaccountable inevitability getting in the way of taking important steps to fix an ongoing, and growing, road safety disaster.
Overly dramatic? There is an average of over 175 collisions resulting in casualties every day in British Columbia. And crashes resulting in at least one fatality occur an average of every one and one-third days (2016 statistics). The numbers are growing.
Road safety advocates have been campaigning against the 害羞草研究所淎害羞草研究所� word for years. Here are some quotes I害羞草研究所檝e found online:
害羞草研究所淲hen you use the word 害羞草研究所榓ccident害羞草研究所�, it害羞草研究所檚 like 害羞草研究所楪od made it happen害羞草研究所� (Mark Rosekind, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration);
害羞草研究所淭he word wrongly implies that human decisions and actions have nothing to do with it害羞草研究所� (Jeff Larason, former Boston traffic reporter, now director of highway safety for Massachusetts);
害羞草研究所淭he phrase 害羞草研究所榠t was just an accident害羞草研究所� serves both as a claim of innocence and as an exoneration.害羞草研究所� (RoadPeace);
害羞草研究所淲hen we say 害羞草研究所榓ccident,害羞草研究所� we are basically throwing up our hands and saying that the deaths of children like Allison are inevitable, something no one is responsible for, like bad weather害羞草研究所π卟菅芯克鶟 (His-Pei Liao).
There is a web site dedicated to this issue: , which has a compelling introduction:
害羞草研究所淣ot all crashes are 害羞草研究所榓ccidents害羞草研究所�. Crimes are not 害羞草研究所榓ccidents害羞草研究所�. It害羞草研究所檚 not an 害羞草研究所榓ccident害羞草研究所� when a person makes a decision to drive drunk, distracted, or in a negligent manner. Stop giving criminals a pass by calling it an 害羞草研究所榓ccident害羞草研究所�.害羞草研究所�
A national (United States) to eliminate the 害羞草研究所淎害羞草研究所� word was kicked off June 8, 1997. I cannot possibly articulate the issue better than the road safety giants who carefully crafted the proclamation:
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, changing the way we think about events and the words we use will affect the way we behave. Our goal is to eliminate the word 害羞草研究所渁ccident害羞草研究所� from the realm of unintentional injury, on the highway and across the nation;
Whereas, motor vehicle crashes and injuries are predictable, preventable events. Continued use of the word 害羞草研究所渁ccident害羞草研究所� promotes the concept that these events are outside of human influence or control. In fact, they are predictable results of specific actions;
Whereas, we can identify their causes and take action to avoid them. These are not 害羞草研究所渁cts of God害羞草研究所�, but predictable results of the laws of physics;
Whereas, use of the word 害羞草研究所渁ccident害羞草研究所� works against bringing the appropriate resources to bear on this enormous problem. It allows the idea that the resulting injuries are an unexpected part of life;
Now, therefore, we the undersigned, in recognition of this life saving and injury preventing opportunity, do hereby proclaim a national campaign:
害羞草研究所淐rashes Aren害羞草研究所檛 Accidents害羞草研究所�
To eliminate the word 害羞草研究所渁ccident害羞草研究所� from the realm of unintentional injury, on the highway and across the nation, with our partners, with the media, and in all public contexts.
by Canada害羞草研究所檚 Traffic Injury Research Foundation, dated December, 2017, gives a supportive Canadian perspective.
My column last week included a teaser, that I would share the results of an on camera debate about this issue with local journalist, Kent Molgat. He was very kind and would have granted me the win regardless of my performance. Unfortunately, you won害羞草研究所檛 be able to see the debate because an example I used for how the 害羞草研究所淎害羞草研究所� word would not fit all unintentional occurrences (a sniper target shooting on a crowded beach, 害羞草研究所渁ccidentally害羞草研究所� blowing off a child害羞草研究所檚 head) failed to meet publication standards!
How about we come on board to eliminate the 害羞草研究所淎害羞草研究所� word when referring to motor vehicle collisions, crashes, and incidents in Kelowna? Will the local news media sign on? Will you?
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