Crashes NOT Accidents

When discussing crashes or promoting statewide traffic safety measures, it is important to remember that little things matter. Just a few seconds of inattentiveness from a drowsy or distracted driver can have disastrous results, changing or even ending lives forever. Similarly, small differences in the language we use influences how the public and other professionals think about crashes.

The term "accident" makes it seem like crashes are inevitable, rather than preventable. In a subtle way, it minimizes the crash and discourages us from looking more deeply into the causes — whether alcohol, reckless driving, or bad street design. The term "crash," simply states the result and avoids fault or excuse of action. When lives are at stake, it’s important to use the right words to describe the situation.

Adopting this logic, in 2016 the Associated Press revised their style guide to recommend that journalists use "crash, collision, or other terms" besides "accident" in auto crash reporting. 

Please use the term "crash", never "accident".

References

Michigan Department of Transportation Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_dqA9kl6JA&feature=youtu.be

News article from Vox: https://www.vox.com/2015/7/20/8995151/crash-not-accident

AP Stylebook: https://store.apstylebook.com/apstylebookonline.html