Transportation Alternativesand Families for Safe Streets is calling on the Associated Press to start referring to traffic“accidents” as “crashes” when talking about collisions. The advocacygroup has formally submitted the suggestion to the AP for its 2016 stylebook. The AP, the journalistic style standard, announced on Oct. 26 that it was starting to work on the new guide, and is taking suggestions for changes. RELATED: Woman killed by MTA bus that didn’t stop in Brooklyn: NYPD An online petition to use “crash” instead of “accident” was launched last summer, and had more than 2,200 signatures on Tuesday. They hope to reach 20,000.
“A seemingly ‘simple’ world can change a life,” Transportation Alternatives said in a press release.
“Traffic crashes are fixable problems, caused by dangerous streets and unsafe drivers. They are not accidents. Let’s stop using the word ‘accident’ today.”
RELATED: MTA shows off bus technology that could keep riders and pedestrians safer Paul Colford, the AP’s vice president and director of media relations, told Metro the organization reviews “all suggestions that are submitted.”
The AP does not have clear guidance for or against using the term accident.
The NYPD stopped using the term “accident” in 2013, Streetsblog reported.