Colorado State Patrol Wants You To Stop Saying This One Word

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Photo: Car bumper after accident (iStock)

Colorado State Patrol is making a change. They're telling their troopers to stop using the word "accident" -- and they want ordinary Coloradans to do so as well. Instead, they'd prefer the words "crash" or "collision" to describe mishaps on the road. The idea is that an "accident," by definition is unexpected or unintentional, and therefore is not preventable. A "crash," on the other hand, is something that could be avoided. It's at least more neutral -- and that distinction is important, the patrol says.

Sgt. Rob Madden is a trooper with the Colorado State Patrol. He spoke with Colorado Matters host Ryan Warner.