How can we avoid such accidents? Motorist killed while waiting at traffic light
 

Motorist hit by car then run over by another.

No matter how careful you are, when this happens it makes you think that the safest is not to go out. :mad:

Do fatal bathroom slips and falls effect you in the same way? How about the early deaths of sedentary individuals?

My attitude is to choose life, exercise appropriate care and refrain from worry.

Back in my paramedic days, I often got a full night's sleep on weekdays, and almost never even got to bed on weekends. So one of my little rules for not dying prematurely is to try to stay off the road after dark on Friday and Saturday.

And they all have the same excuse, "I didn't see him/her". We have all heard a thousand times "ignorance of the law is no excuse". It's about time we start hearing "not seeing someone in front of you is no excuse".

Motorcycle vs Car, Car always wins. Motorcycles should get off the road.

Poor eyesight should disqualify any driver.

"Motorcycle vs Car, Car always wins." (sic)
Pedestrian vs car, car always wins.
Bicyclist vs car, car always wins.

See a pattern here? Let's get the dangerous vehicles off the road, i.e. the car. Let them stay on the freeway where they belong

Your screen name says it all.

I was thinking the other day about the 'road rights' issue, once again; I thought about all the times I hear the crap about 'roads were built for cars' . . . then it HIT me -- THE FREEWAYS/INTERSTATES WERE BUILT FOR CARS! LET 'EM KILL EACH OTHER, OUT THERE!

"How can we avoid such accidents?" - Accidents? What is it with all you people that keep using the word "accident"? At a minimum, this incident was gross negligence / dangerous driving by the first driver and proven DUI by the second.

WTF makes it an accident? Why are there so freaking many apologists on these boards that [almost always] want to give the benefit of the doubt to the motorists?

If you all have even the slightest desire to do yourself and the cycling community any help whatsoever - then try to correct the incessant use of the term "accident" by others.

Agree. That term is taken to mean a something that just happened, and using it separated the event from the cause. Say "how can we avoid these accidents" and people shrug and look at each other. Say "How can we stop these rear-enders that kill somebody" and people start to think and become engaged.

No slam on the OP intended,though, the word is part of our culture.

-Gary

It is because we're speaking English and that's the meaning the word has. And trying to change the word won't make anyone even 1% safer.

Typical useless thinking of someone who doesn't ride a motorcycle.

One of the comments' in the OP's link, is this:

"He's no longer alive and so I'll say this... My heart, my condolences, my deepest sympathy to those he loved, loved him back, and those whom he touched along his life's journey. I ride motorcycles too. Yes, they are dangerous. But, I'm not going to go as far to say, that I won't ride because of this. . If he was in a car, would he had survived? Maybe.... But, just maybe. Maybe I'll be rich tomorrow.... maybe I won't. It's just maybe. This could've been a pedestrian walking across the street. The guy that hit him from behind may too, have been impaired...drunk, etc. It could've been an accident involving people on sidewalks, anything. The point I'm making is... If it had been a pedestrian struck by a car in Manhattan, should it be reasonable to say, "That's why I never walk the streets of Manhattan?".

This is exactly how I feel. I am not going to stop riding my bike, because another cyclist was killed. I am not going to stop 'taking the lane', for the sake of people like you wanting to speed.

OPEC loves you.

What alternate word would you suggest that will not make the user/writer sound like a strident fool?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: incidents like this are no accident. Real accidents are very rare. Crashes happen because someone is acting in a stupid, irresponsible or negligent manner, or any combination of the three. Hopefully both drivers in the above story go down hard for vehicular manslaughter.

Some take this post literally. Some can't understand sarcasm when it's right in front of them. Try substituting bicycle for motorcycle. Maybe that will help.

All accidents have causes. Often they can be identified. At least in American English any vehicular crash can be properly be termed an accident. This accident may, for example, been caused by a negligent truck driver. It could have been caused by stick on the side of the road. It could have been caused by a cyclist sneeze at exactly the wrong time.

ac·ci·dent/ˈaksidənt/Noun

1. An unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury.
2. A crash involving road or other vehicles, typically one that causes serious damage or

How do you arrive at "change the meaning of the word"?

I am not writing about changing the meaning - instead, I am requesting that we use alternate words that do not soften or excuse the rampant driver negligence we are witness to on an almost daily basis.

The incessant use of the term "accident" does us no good at all. It is not too far removed from mainstream media constantly stating whether a helmet was worn, as though it makes any substantive [and proven] difference to outcomes.

Read GMT13's reply immediately above your post for an example of an intelligent response that does not make the poster look like an arrogant condescending wanker.

You people are so hung up on the definition of the word accident that it is unbelievable. I hardly need a dictionary definition of a word whose constant use I object to.

I am also certain that whether we are using American or British English, that the cultural perception of the useage is near identical - accidental, is more often than not, used to denote lack of intent. Do you disagree with this assertion?

Both CommuterRun and I took Unresaonable's post to be sarcastic.

I didn't find it funny. Because it invariably marginalizes the death of the motorcyclist.

As with probably too many words in the English language, "sarcasm" has more than one meaning. Yes, on the one hand it can be intended as satirical wit, with Dr. House as a comtemporary classic example.

In the case above, I also did not find it funny and did not think it was meant to be funny. Sarcasm is more usually caustic and bitter, where the opposite of what is written is actually intended.

I find sarcasm to be an effective intelligence test. This thread has reinforced that finding.

I find oblique insults that are not addressed to anyone in particular to be a good indicator of character. Your post reinforced that finding. :rolleyes:

Ummmm, that happened at 4:30 AM, not PM. And even if it did happen at 4:30 PM, this is one reason a bicyclist shouldn't take a lane and should be "FRAP". Sorry bicycles and motorcycles aren't cars, never will be regardless of the way any law is written up. Even when I had a motorcycle and rode it, stopped at a stop light, you have to constantly check the rear view mirrors for cars that don't look like they are going to stop and plan of action if they aren't. And as a motorcyclist, if a car tail gates you, motorcyclists need to get away from those bad drivers even if it means speeding long enough to get to a safer place and pull over to another traffic lane. Whether on bike or motorcycle, riding offensively & defensively to create space and distance another motorist isn't giving you because they are poor drivers. It's probably the only way you're going to make it in this world ? For the most part this type of accident is the exception, but being the exception is either crippling or deadly. Nobody can afford to be the exception on bicycle or motorcycle. Whether the motorist is insured, they can keep that money, pain & suffering will never be worth collecting for being crippled. For death, well maybe the beneficiary will be set, but that does you no good.