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  • I have a problem with the word accident, it's as if we're saying "Oops!". Are accidents avoidable? Are we OK about tolerating accidents that end in fatality? I'd rather call them incidents, and figure that something should be addressed. This something doesn't necessarily put blame on anyone involved, it might be that town planning led to the creation of a dangerous junction, that there was oil on the road, or that fog descended. Not all incidents need have solutions, but certainly the cause behind them should be examined and there should be less of an "Oops!" about it.

    I think it was Professor Thrun (not a rapper), who basically wondered aloud about why we (mankind) permit one of the largest cause of deaths in youth (road traffic incidents) to occur. I largely agree with him... if we (all road users) collectively wanted it to end, we have it within our means to do so. The very first part of that is to stop calling them accidents, stop thinking that they are things that just happened, and instead call them incidents, and ask the question "What can be done to avoid this in future?".

    That does make us lobbyists to some extent. And the point of the black header was to recognise that a death has occurred that may have been avoidable, and to help trigger collective action. It's done with sympathy to the thought, "It could have been me.". Not to say that collective grief is the desire... that would be gruesome. But that appreciating life and recognising loss should be a cause for great anger about why we let this happen.

    I think I rambled and talked myself in knots. I don't think it's promoting collective grief though.

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