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It's not an accident. It's a crash. Someone is always at fault. In this case, it seems it may have been Bruce. Rather than dismiss it as an accident, it should serve as a lesson to the rest of us.
We call them accidents because it makes it easier for the perpetrators to live with the fact that they killed someone, but that doesn't help the situation. It makes it seem like it was unavoidable, and it minimizes the role the driver played in the crash. People multitask while driving, it seems more than ever these days. If we stop minimizing the role of the drivers in crashes, perhaps some people may be just a little bit more conscious of their surroundings, and maybe this will save a life or two.
It's not an accident. It's a crash. Someone is always at fault. In this case, it seems it may have been Bruce. Rather than dismiss it as an accident, it should serve as a lesson to the rest of us.
We call them accidents because it makes it easier for the perpetrators to live with the fact that they killed someone, but that doesn't help the situation. It makes it seem like it was unavoidable, and it minimizes the role the driver played in the crash. People multitask while driving, it seems more than ever these days. If we stop minimizing the role of the drivers in crashes, perhaps some people may be just a little bit more conscious of their surroundings, and maybe this will save a life or two.
RIP Bruce.
Good post. EVERYONE makes a mistake sometimes. Everyone who has ever swung a leg over a bike has made them. Most times we get away with a moments lapse of judgment, a seconds worth of inattention, or even a bad choice. Sometimes we don't and have a hard price to pay for those mistakes. A great rider had one of those, and paid a very dear price. No matter how good, great, or experienced; it can/does happen and this tragedy should cause all of us who ride to take notice and ride just that much more carefully.
Thoughts and prayers to friends and family during this time.
ac⋅ci⋅dent /ˈæksɪdənt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ak-si-duhnt] Show IPA
Use accident in a Sentence
–noun 1. an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss; casualty; mishap: automobile accidents. 2. Law. such a happening resulting in injury that is in no way the fault of the injured person for which compensation or indemnity is legally sought.
3. any event that happens unexpectedly, without a deliberate plan or cause.
4. chance; fortune; luck: I was there by accident.
5. a fortuitous circumstance, quality, or characteristic: an accident of birth.
6. Philosophy. any entity or event contingent upon the existence of something else.
7. Geology. a surface irregularity, usually on a small scale, the reason for which is not apparent.
ac⋅ci⋅dent /ˈæksɪdənt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ak-si-duhnt] Show IPA
Use accident in a Sentence
–noun 1. an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss; casualty; mishap: automobile accidents. 2. Law. such a happening resulting in injury that is in no way the fault of the injured person for which compensation or indemnity is legally sought.
3. any event that happens unexpectedly, without a deliberate plan or cause.
4. chance; fortune; luck: I was there by accident.
5. a fortuitous circumstance, quality, or characteristic: an accident of birth.
6. Philosophy. any entity or event contingent upon the existence of something else.
7. Geology. a surface irregularity, usually on a small scale, the reason for which is not apparent.
And I can't believe I actually looked this up because someone felt the need to say I was wrong.
What an asinine argument.
I never said one couldn't learn from accidents.
Attitudes like yours ("That's why they're called accidents") make ME less safe, so yes, I felt the need to say you were wrong. I wasn't "arguing" with you. I was merely telling you you have the wrong attitude. Maybe saying you have an "asinine" attitude would have been a better way to descibe it?
Attitudes like yours ("That's why they're called accidents") make ME less safe, so yes, I felt the need to say you were wrong. I wasn't "arguing" with you. I was merely telling you you have the wrong attitude. Maybe saying you have an "asinine" attitude would have been a better way to descibe it?
I always go by the definition that accidents are things that are not preventable. A crash is preventable. This is what AAA class has taught me.
I always go by the definition that accidents are things that are not preventable. A crash is preventable. This is what AAA class has taught me.
But that is the problem with calling them accidents. 99% of them ARE preventable, but someone involved isn't paying close enough attention or is doing something they shouldn't be doing. I have read several books on motorcycle safety as well as one book on driving psychology, and they all embrace this concept of crashes, not accidents. As motorcyclists, the onus is on US to pay even closer attention to our surroundings, because the other person's car damage can be fixed, but our death cant. We need to be riding around with a heightened sense of our surroundings and it is not a bad idea to promote car drivers doing the same. The term "accident" allows a more relaxed attitude (even if only slightly) towards driving and riding. "If it's not preventable, why bother constantly trying to prevent it? If it's going to happen, it's going to happen." See what I mean? Why bother yourself with a heightened sense of your surroundings if there is nothing you can do about it?
Location: Democratic Peoples Republic of Redneckistan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AnesthesiaMD
But that is the problem with calling them accidents. 99% of them ARE preventable, but someone involved isn't paying close enough attention or is doing something they shouldn't be doing. I have read several books on motorcycle safety as well as one book on driving psychology, and they all embrace this concept of crashes, not accidents. As motorcyclists, the onus is on US to pay even closer attention to our surroundings, because the other person's car damage can be fixed, but our death cant. We need to be riding around with a heightened sense of our surroundings and it is not a bad idea to promote car drivers doing the same. The term "accident" allows a more relaxed attitude (even if only slightly) towards driving and riding. "If it's not preventable, why bother constantly trying to prevent it? If it's going to happen, it's going to happen." See what I mean? Why bother yourself with a heightened sense of your surroundings if there is nothing you can do about it?
I understand what you are saying Doc and I agree with you.
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