[Scan-DC] Meaning of "ETOH"

[Steve Rigby]

LtBrown122@aol.com wrote:

> I think this falls into line when we had to stop calling vehicle
>  crashes MVA's. Motor Vehicle Accidents. This was apparently 
> another polictal correctness move - because some administrator at
>  some level decided that accidents are something that cannot be 
> avoided. But collisions are something that can be avoided and are
>  usually due to someone's driver error. So we had to call them 
> PIC - Personal Injury Collision or Property Damage Collsion.

   I'm gonna disagree with your assessment of the reason for changing
from using the term "accident" to describe virtually all motor
vehicle collisions to the use of the term "collision."

   A collision is when one object comes into contact with another,
and in general useage, collision is usually meant to describe an
event of some violence, though not always.

   Any collision can either be random, almost totally unpredictable,
such as if a tree were to fall on your vehicle just as you were
enjoying a leisurely drive on a nice country road.  Or, a collision
could be the result of your trying to drive your car as you see them
driven in TV commercials.  One of the previous if purely accidental,
the other is a result of behavior with, and I'm sure you'd agree,
nearly predictable results.  One is a true accident, the other
isn't, whether or not the resulting outcome was presumed beforehand
or not.  To refer to both, in a legal or technical sense, with the
same terminology and definition is wrong.

   Most vehicular crashes are, in fact, directly attributable to
human behavioral characteristics, often some form of error, and
cannot, therefore be purely accidental in nature.  All, however, are
crashes, or even collisions, if you will.

   All too often I hear on the news how weather, such as fog or rain
has "caused" accidents.  No, no, no.  Almost always it is the
behavior of drivers under these adverse conditions that result in
crashes, and they are certainly not accidents when drivers refuse to
slow down during driving downpours or in dense fog.

   A crash is a crash.  Or a collision is a collision.  Let the
circumstances, accidental or otherwise be determined in court.

   Steve