Request ID: FOI-1686-2223 Date published: 07 November 2022
You asked
I would like under the FOI act to be informed of who took the decision to remove the word “ACCIDENT” from our English language.
How can the word collision be accepted for an accident?
A collision:
an act or instance of colliding : clash. 2 : an encounter between particles (such as atoms or molecules) resulting in exchange or transformation of energy.
An accident:
an event that happens by chance or that is without apparent or deliberate cause.
"the pregnancy was an accident"
So if someone spills water on the floor that is a COLLISION is it?
If two trains hit each other that is a COLLISION!
So under FOI which I will hold you too, I want to know who took that decision and how can you enforce a word that should not be used?
We answered
TfL Ref: 1686-2223
Thank you for your request received by us on 11 November 2022 asking for information about the rationale for using the word ‘collision’.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked:
who took the decision to remove the word “ACCIDENT” from our English language.
How can the word collision be accepted for an accident?
A collision:
an act or instance of colliding : clash. 2 : an encounter between particles (such as atoms or molecules) resulting in exchange or transformation of energy.
An accident:
an event that happens by chance or that is without apparent or deliberate cause. "the pregnancy was an accident"
So if someone spills water on the floor that is a COLLISION is it?
If two trains hit each other that is a COLLISION!
So under FOI which I will hold you too, I want to know who took that decision and how can you enforce a word that should not be used?
We can advise that Transport for London uses the word ‘collision’ rather than ‘accident’ because we do not pre-judge the cause, which could have occurred due to a wide range of factors.
Furthermore, this is also standard practise across public bodies. For example, the Government’s Department for Transport agency uses the word ‘collision’ in the same context below:
Whilst we have been unable to identify the individuals who made the decision to use ‘collision’, Transport for London has been referring to ‘collisions’ since at least 2001, as referenced in the following Road Safety Plan at: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/londons-road-safety-plan.pdf
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Jasmine Howard FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
