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This is the thread Ed just mentioned: http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/258761/
IMO it's because drivers have an applied social privilege that means any wrongdoing they might commit isn't really their fault. The default road user is the driver of a vehicle, therefore it'd be preposterous to say 'all car drivers run over people", so their agency is conveniently removed in instances where they do. Because saying "this car driver drove over a cyclist" is exactly the same as saying "all car drivers drive over cyclists", obviously.
bothwell
Why do we (people in general but especially the press) describe collisions as "cyclist vs car/lorry/bus/van/truck"? Why apportion humanity to one and not the other? Every time I read it it sounds like it is the vehicle itself that is responsible/affected rather than the sentient being behind the wheel. Why not say "a bicycle and a car collided" or "a cyclist and the driver of a car collided" and then describe how either party is affected. The former being more accurate as the latter could have happened while they were both out walking somewhere.
Genuine question.