Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
AirTalk

Would banning the term 'car accident' cut down on car crashes?

A toy car pileup mimics a car crash.
A toy car pileup mimics a car crash.
(
Photo by jcarwil via Flickr Creative Commons
)
Listen 16:19
Would banning the term 'car accident' cut down on car crashes?

After the Associated Press changed its official style guide last month, municipal and state governments have been striking car “accident” from official language and replacing it with “crash.”

Proponents say the change makes us less complicit with the number of auto fatalities and also avoids deferring fault, but opponents say it’s a similarly inaccurate and broad brush with which to paint all collisions.

What do you think?

Guest:

Jeff Larason, Massachusetts Director of Highway Safety and author of the blog, Drop the A Word