tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post3096544031105160672..comments2023-08-28T05:00:22.511-04:00Comments on REDUCE COLLISIONS, INJURY AND DEATH IN TORONTO: Road users have Collisions, Children have 'accidents'Tim Burrowshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05454634697501889479noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post-54114662931230335062010-07-05T11:41:32.227-04:002010-07-05T11:41:32.227-04:00Thanks for your input.Thanks for your input.Tim Burrowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05454634697501889479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post-78343724187970835592010-07-05T11:31:49.116-04:002010-07-05T11:31:49.116-04:00This is the most idiotic thing I've read in ag...This is the most idiotic thing I've read in ages. Vlad is totally right.<br /><br />For all non-scientific intents and purposes we don't live in a deterministic universe, accidents happen, even traffic accidents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post-22511559581456841452010-06-09T09:58:42.629-04:002010-06-09T09:58:42.629-04:00Any event can be scaled to a point where it is a d...Any event can be scaled to a point where it is a disaster. Losing a pair of sunglasses or reading glasses is not a disaster.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong. I am not denying that the word accident in the wild has taken on a new meaning of lack or responsibility. In one of my earlier comments I did say that the word makes it easier for people to avoid feeling at fault for the accident because of that meaning. What I'm trying to say is that instead of condemning the word, why not tell people that accident doesn't mean no one's at fault and that it couldn't be prevented.<br />If i accidentally step on my dad's glasses, doesn't mean it's no one's fault. It's either my fault for not seeing them, or his fault for leaving them in way of walking traffic.<br /><br />Language constantly changes. New words come in, old ones get forgotten, others start taking a new meaning that was never intended. The "chance" definition of the word accident is an example. "I accidentally ran into James on the street" implies by chance, but the word started getting that usage in "unintended" meaning. "I met James even though I didn't mean to".<br /><br />Now, the research and expert opinion in what field? Car insurance? Traffic law?<br />There's research that 100% proves that global warming exists, but there's also research that 100% proves that global warming is a myth. All done around the same time. All coming from legitimate sources. How can that be?<br />Give me a point to argue, and I will find research supporting that point. <br />If you look deep enough into politics and history, studies are quite often done to support a point that was decided on from the start, making it a biased study.<br />Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_generation<br />It's a theory derived by Aristotle, a great philosopher. An expert in his field, if you will. For the next 2000 years the theory was considered a fact of life, with many experts agreeing with it, and with huge amount of research proving it correct.<br />I'm not saying your experts are uneducated. I'm just saying that if they work in an industry that has something to do with traffic, they're biased and have an opinion from the start.<br /><br />I admire the fact that you're trying to raise awareness that in any accident, or collision, someone is at fault, and that if proper steps were taken by all parties involved, it could have been avoided. However, I have to disagree that condemning the word "accident" is the way to do it.<br />I think the fact there is insurance coverage for at-fault accidents is the biggest culprit.<br />If people knew that if they cause the accident they'll lose whatever the price of their car is, they will be MUCH more careful. <br />But that's a different discussion altogether.Vladnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post-64193013156505524762010-06-09T08:55:08.608-04:002010-06-09T08:55:08.608-04:00Well, my Dad is completely blind without his glass...Well, my Dad is completely blind without his glasses and to him being in a fixed income and unable to see without them, it would be a disaster if someone stepped on them. (great distress)<br /><br />Vlad, respectfully, the point of this is that the term accident implies a lack of control and responsibility. You can't tell me one circumstance where vehicles or people collide that it was a true accident.<br /><br />It is an over-used word in a society that many people refuse to take any responsibility for their actions and embrace the word as a security blanket to scream, "Not my fault. It was an accident!"<br /><br />As long as people feel that way then we will always have a fight for safer roads because the acceptance that they did have control is lost on them.<br /><br />You are welcome to your opinion, as I am to mine. The difference between them is mine is supported by research and expert opinion. Yours is supported by, well I don't really know what supports your opinion.Tim Burrowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05454634697501889479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post-48055922817791883672010-06-09T08:33:08.913-04:002010-06-09T08:33:08.913-04:00Nope, doesn't fit
disaster noun - a state of e...Nope, doesn't fit<br />disaster noun - a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune; an occurrence that causes great distress or destruction<br /><br />I wouldn't really call accidentally stepping on someone's glasses a disaster.Vladnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post-59939842076547949892010-06-09T01:17:09.084-04:002010-06-09T01:17:09.084-04:00DisasterDisasterTim Burrowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05454634697501889479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post-91230600027455261222010-06-09T00:48:06.997-04:002010-06-09T00:48:06.997-04:00Give me a noun (one word) that you would use to de...Give me a noun (one word) that you would use to describe an unintended unfortunate eventVladhttp://blog.kvantum.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post-64443034635305421432010-06-03T21:46:16.960-04:002010-06-03T21:46:16.960-04:00Oy vey!
an incident that happens by chance or wit...Oy vey!<br /><br /><i>an incident that happens by chance or without apparent cause</i><br /><br />The only thing I can think of, when it comes to driving, that could be an "accident" is if a meteor struck my car, hit my windshield, knocked me unconscious and I veered off into the ditch.<br /><br />In 2004, a deer jumped over a fence bordering a highway that cuts through dense forest where I live and landed right on the hood of my car at the exact moment I was driving through. The 400 pound buck traveled through my car and exited through my rear window leaving a trail of fur, blood and feces.<br /><br />There was no way I could have predicted this collision or even be prepared. It was night. It was raining and I was driving just under the speed limit. I was as cautious as could be, prepared for a deer to run out in front of me but not land on top of me.<br /><br />My adjuster referred to this crash as an accident. Actually going as far to say "it was an accident in the truest sense of the word".<br /><br />But it wasn't. Had the road not cut through a natural habitat for deer and interrupted their instinctive migration path, the deer would not have collided with my car. <br /><br />All collisions have apparent causes.<br /><br />Driving through a red = distraction. All drivers take a test to prove they can handle a car with due care and attention. We know as drivers we must focus on the road so this "didn't mean to" nonsense is a load of crap.<br /><br />More examples of didn't mean to-s:<br /><br />Hydroplaning on a wet roadway.<br />Means you were driving too fast for the conditions and lacked the skill and training to recover and what to do to regain control.<br /><br />Skidding off a highway into a ditch? See above.<br /><br />Vlad, I can appreciate your interpretation but you're wrong.C.J. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03325979176373626807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post-6691465906718548762010-06-03T14:16:08.802-04:002010-06-03T14:16:08.802-04:00Thanks Vlad.
You're absolutely right, it is e...Thanks Vlad.<br /><br />You're absolutely right, it is exactly like talking to a wall.<br /><br />Have a great day.Tim Burrowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05454634697501889479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post-84488842864009980422010-06-03T13:58:49.120-04:002010-06-03T13:58:49.120-04:00Jesus Christ. It's like talking to a wall. &qu...Jesus Christ. It's like talking to a wall. "Accidental" refers to "unintentional". You may notice that I said "_Using your broken logic_, the word “accident” shouldn’t exist at all." <br />You are not a linguist. Stop teaching people English.<br />The reason they're moving away from the word is because it softens people's feeling of responsibility. I'm not denying the fact that people should understand that it's their actions that caused the accident. Doesn't change the fact that it was unintentional.<br />It's like people using "sexual assault" instead of "rape", I guess it is more politically correct. Doesn't mean "rape" is a wrong description of an event.Vladhttp://kvantum.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post-79660966876755686492010-06-03T13:49:23.672-04:002010-06-03T13:49:23.672-04:00Hey Vlad;
Thanks again for supporting my point. T...Hey Vlad;<br /><br />Thanks again for supporting my point. The word accident should not exist. You very eloquently showed exactly why.<br /><br />When an event is analyzed, something can always be found to explain why it happened and how to prevent it from happening again.<br /><br />If you listen carefully, you are hearing the word used less and less. Actually, in the UK and Australia the word is almost non existent, because it makes sense to everyone in safety and risk management professions.<br /><br />Thanks again.Tim Burrowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05454634697501889479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post-51665481652171820522010-06-03T13:27:42.321-04:002010-06-03T13:27:42.321-04:00I never said that lack of intent means lack of res...I never said that lack of intent means lack of responsibility. And no, I didn't support your point. Every accidental event, whether it's dropping a fork, stubbing a toe, or crashing a car, to an outside observer can be predicted after studying the facts. Let’s look at your quote: “TrafficServices @kvantum A tree falling on your parked car is unexpected and unintentional, but not for collision.” Meteorologists can predict that there will be a storm; gardeners can predict that a tree branch looks weak or too heavy, and will fall during a storm. Therefore, a branch falling on your parked car is truly not an accident either. It can be expected, predicted and prevented. Still unintentional though.<br />To a professional it may be obvious that certain chain of events will cause an accident. Same as when people say “I accidentally wiped my drive”. To a professional, or even an enthusiast, it will be obvious that putting in a cd that says “Windows Unattended Install” and rebooting will wipe the drive, but not to someone who needs a book to know how to use MS Word.<br />Using your broken logic, the word “accident” shouldn’t exist at all.<br />Oh, and one more thing, why do you think all those people in government, law enforcement, insurance use the word accident? Why don’t I hear linguists saying we shouldn’t use it? Because the word “unintentional” is the key. And it makes sense to everyone except you.Vladhttp://kvantum.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post-14444676179107298412010-06-03T12:12:28.390-04:002010-06-03T12:12:28.390-04:00Hey Vlad;
Thanks for the lesson on how to properly...Hey Vlad;<br />Thanks for the lesson on how to properly use a dictionary. I am sure that it will come in handy someday.<br />But for now; the reason all the terms of reference are in there is to satisfy full disclosure. Had I left out one or two of the points, someone would have said I was trying to hide the obvious.<br />Thanks also for supporting my point, although I doubt you meant to.<br />If a person was to drive distracted and go through a red light it would be completely predictable, preventable and expected that the person would crash.<br />To stay with your theme...driving distracted is a controllable event. Going through a red light is a controllable event. What is unexpected about that? Sure there may be no intent, but matters concerning the Highway Traffic Act are absolute liabilities so hiding behind, "I didn't intend to kill the pedestrian when I went through the red light." doesn't fly. So...<br />IT IS NOT AN ACCIDENT, IT IS A COLLISION!Tim Burrowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05454634697501889479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post-74953430584357004352010-06-03T08:19:37.719-04:002010-06-03T08:19:37.719-04:00When the dictionary says Noun – 1.) an unfortunate...When the dictionary says Noun – 1.) an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally. 2.) an incident that happens by chance or without apparent cause. 3.) chance<br />It DOES NOT imply all 3 meanings at once. It is a known fact that sometimes words can mean different things, so the dictionary separates these different meanings by 1) 2) and so on<br />For example: drop - noun 1) a small quantity of liquid that falls or is produced in a more or less spherical mass; a liquid globule 2) a decline in amount, degree, quality, value, etc.: a drop in prices. 3) a central depository where items are left or transmitted: a mail drop. 4) a steep slope: a short drop to the lake. <br />Then it goes on with -verb..... but you get the point.<br />Accident refers to unexpected and unintentional. If a driver got distracted and ran a red, he didn't intend to do it, nor was he expecting it, therefore, IT'S AN ACCIDENT.<br />I agree that it doesn't fit the other two descriptions, but same way that "Drop in prices" has absolutely nothing to do with rain, water or any other liquidVladhttp://twitter.com/kvantumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422918616372417238.post-52015495070731144262010-06-02T21:19:42.224-04:002010-06-02T21:19:42.224-04:00Could not have said it better myself.
How to avoi...Could not have said it better myself. <br />How to avoid a collision? Give space, and always use lights, light travels faster than your unlit vehicle, so it will always be more visible, and less likely to be hit.John Ross Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02388152562914203952noreply@blogger.com