Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
"Accidents"

Associated Press Cautions Journalists That Crashes Aren’t Always “Accidents”

The Associated Press has tweaked its guidance for journalists about when to call traffic collisions "accidents."

Street safety advocates, spearheaded by New York City's Transportation Alternatives, have been pushing police and media organizations to drop the term "accident" because it implies the absence of culpability -- often before all the facts are in -- and makes traffic collisions seem like random, unpreventable acts of God.

The AP style guide, a highly influential reference book for reporters, currently doesn't take a stance on whether "accident" is appropriate. A web addendum to the guide does recommend against "accident" because it's not a neutral term, but the guide itself refers to collisions as "accidents" multiple times.

The new style guide will be released June 1 and cautions against calling a crash an "accident" in cases "when negligence is claimed or proven." The AP tweeted today that "crash, collision or other terms" should be used instead.

“This is a big win for the national Vision Zero movement to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries, because media outlets like the Associated Press have the power to change not only the conversation about safety, but also the culture on our streets,” Transportation Alternatives' Executive Director, Paul Steely White, said in a press release.

The strange thing about the revised guidance is that "accident" is still the default term, instead of a term reserved for cases in which the absence of fault has been ascertained.

Under the AP's guidance, journalists reporting breaking news about collisions would continue to use the loaded term "accident" before an investigation has determined whether negligence or recklessness was a factor.

But hey, the AP isn't known for rapid adaptation. It's just getting around to blessing a lowercase "I" when spelling the word "internet."

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

‘We’re Not Copenhagen’ Is No Excuse Not to Build a Great Biking And Walking City

A team of researchers identified eight under-the-radar cities leading the local active transportation revolution — and a menu of strategies that other communities can and should steal.

June 30, 2025

Monday’s Headlines, Ranked

New reports rank the best cities for biking and the best complete streets policies. Plus, the robotaxi wars have begun.

June 30, 2025

Washington State Is About To Have the First Pro-‘Woonerf’ Law in America

Washington state is making it legal for cities to have people-centered streets in a first-in-the-nation law.

June 30, 2025

Friday’s Headlines Are Doomed

Philadelphia transit is falling off the fiscal cliff, with other major cities not far behind. And the effects of service cuts on their economies could be brutal.

June 27, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: Why We Need ‘Universal Basic Mobility’

In a very special podcast, we’re joined by the great Madeline Brozen of UCLA to talk about how guaranteed transit lowers people's stress.

June 26, 2025
See all posts