Changing Words, Saving Lives: From Accidents to Crashes

Changing Words, Saving Lives: From Accidents to Crashes

It often takes a profoundly personal moment to make us question the words we use, the narratives we accept, and the reality we confront. For me, that moment arrived on June 18, 2020. It marked the beginning of a journey to change the way we talk about road incidents, and more importantly, to change the way we think about them.

The Road Trauma Support Group of NSW (RTSG NSW) recently introduced the Road Collision Reporting Guidelines (RCRG). These guidelines represent a crucial step forward in our collective understanding of the road safety crisis that plagues New South Wales. With 353 road deaths in the last 12 months, which is up a chilling 24% from the previous 12 months, we face a grim reality: nearly one road death a day. To put it in perspective, that's far more than the rate of one murder every five days in NSW.

Despite decades of research indicating that most collisions are preventable through measures such as addressing speeding, combating distracted driving, and curbing drug and alcohol use, road danger is still too often seen as an inescapable part of modern life. This fatalistic perspective has endured for far too long, and it is high time we address this pressing issue.

The RCRG comprises ten essential clauses grounded in core journalistic principles such as accuracy, fairness, non-discrimination, and justice. The guidelines are designed to complement existing codes of conduct, fostering the highest standards of reporting across all forms of media.

One might wonder why the emphasis on changing the language from "accidents" to "incidents," "crashes” or even “vehicular homicides” to understand the significance of this shift, it's essential to hear my story….

Before that fateful day in June, I, too, would have questioned the importance of changing a single word. But that was before my son, Constable Aaron Vidal, a dedicated police officer, was struck by an offender who ran a red light, while he was riding his motorcycle home from work.

Aaron was killed instantly, leaving behind a grieving family, including a fiancée who was pregnant with their first child, friends, and colleagues. He was an exceptional officer and a compassionate man always willing to lend a hand.

The offender was charged and convicted of dangerous driving occasioning death but received a two-year intensive correction order at court. Having spent three decades in policing and attending numerous fatal crashes, I was unprepared for the relentless grief and trauma of losing Aaron, particularly in such a violent manner due to the criminal actions of another.

Herein lies the heart of the matter: if the weapon used to kill Aaron had been a knife, gun, or baseball bat, we the living victims would have had access to much greater support, and the courts would have likely treated the offence differently. But because the weapon was a motor vehicle, Aaron's death was not classified as a homicide, but an "accident," a term that I find deeply offensive.

So, I took action. I requested the NSW Police Force to review and discontinue classifying motor vehicle crashes as "accidents." Supported by the Commissioner's Executive Team, a review commenced, and further work identified opportunities for similar changes in terminology across the organisation.

The NSW Police Force responded. Not only are motor vehicle crashes now classified as "crashes" rather than "accidents," but this principle has also been extended to other areas, including rail, aircraft, marine crashes, and workplace incidents. This change is more than a matter of semantics; it's a profound step in recognizing the criminality associated with road crimes and the trauma experienced by victims and their families.

This change doesn't stand alone; it's part of a broader effort to address the challenges faced by those affected by road trauma. It acknowledges the harm inflicted and the desperate need for support and assistance. It's about building a more compassionate society where words reflect the gravity of the issue and the depth of our commitment to change.

Following Aaron's tragic passing, I was fortunate to receive tremendous support from friends, colleagues, and the NSW Police Force. But I also recognised that not everyone receives such support. This realisation led to the founding of the Road Trauma Support Group (RTSG) NSW in 2021.

RTSG was formed to provide support to those who have directly experienced the loss of a loved one due to road trauma, resulting from the criminal actions of another on the road. The group offers specialist trauma counselling, assistance with court proceedings, and guidance on compulsory third-party concerns. Importantly, RTSG also campaigns for change.

In my work alongside other road trauma victims, I found a common theme: the term "accident" diminishes the criminality of the offence, adding to our grief. When a living road trauma victim hears this word, it is offensive and distressing. It compounds the trauma of losing a loved one.

Now, let's consider some stark statistics from research conducted on behalf of the RTSG: those grieving due to criminal road trauma are 3.5 times more likely to struggle financially, 2.4 times more likely to feel they are battling a system not designed to help them, and 2.8 times more likely to be unable to return to work. Alarmingly, 32% have contemplated suicide, and 1 in 4 have faced issues like alcoholism, drug addiction, or gambling problems. Furthermore, 50% believe that legislation and media should use a word other than 'accident' when referring to road fatalities involving criminal behaviour.

Changing the language from "accidents" to "crashes" is a meaningful step in correcting terminology to reflect the criminality associated with road crimes. It's an essential shift in how we perceive and respond to these incidents, and it underscores the need for a safer road environment for all. It's time for all of us to recognise that these are not mere accidents; they are crashes, and they demand our attention, our compassion, and our commitment to preventing them.

It's not an accident; it's a crash, and it's a big deal. Changing the language is a legacy for our loved ones, an acknowledgment of the profound loss they suffered. It's in honour of Constable Aaron Vidal and all others who have lost their lives on our roads.

David Vidal

RTSG Founding Member

27 December, 2023