National Highways to stop using the word ‘accident’

National Highways has confirmed it will phase out the use of the word ‘accident’ from its communications, in what is being branded as a ‘significant step forward’ in recognising the preventable nature of road collisions.

The wider industry already uses ‘crash’ or ‘collision’, largely regarding ‘accident’ as wrongly presuming collisions are unavoidable, and masking accountability for death and injury on the roads.

In December 2023, Fleet News reported on growing pressure on National Highways to change its language in line with current thinking, and in April it told Fleet News it was mulling alternatives to the word ‘accident’. 

Following consultation with customers, the strategic roads body confirmed it is now replacing ‘accident’ with ‘collision’ in its communications, including on social media, although updating signage on the road network itself such as on its electronic ‘variable message signs’ will, it says, take longer.

“Describing every crash as an ‘accident’ in effect makes excuses for serious incidents,” Edmund King, AA

The change has been welcomed by road safety organisations.

A National Highways spokesperson explained: “We are committed to changing our terminology in line with the government, policy and road safety and transport organisations  - while also taking in road users views and prioritising safety.

“We will continue to explore the most cost-effective options for changing this language on our electronic roadside signs, which we hope to do once all regions use the same national system for setting signs and signals.

“We are already changing the language we use in all the documentation and literature produced across our company, while also encouraging our supply chain and other partners to align with us.”  

Currently, road signage across the National Highways network is managed regionally, making widespread change prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. It confirmed it is creating a national system to streamline this process, but there is currently no timeline on this work being completed.

RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims, has led a ‘Crash Not Accident’ campaign for many years, urging authorities, the media and members of the public to stop using the word accident to shift perceptions around road harm.

Kate Davidson, RoadPeace CEO, said: "RoadPeace welcomes National Highways' decision to phase out the use of the word 'accident' in favour of 'collision.' This is a significant step forward in recognising that road crashes are not random events, but preventable incidents caused by human actions.

“For far too long, the term 'accident' has masked accountability and allowed society to dismiss the daily tragedy of road deaths and serious injuries as inevitable. Changing this language is essential in shifting attitudes and ensuring that we, as a society, take road danger seriously.

“We look forward to seeing this change reflected across all platforms, from publications to digital signage, as National Highways continues this important work.”

The five main causes of death on the roads, known as the ‘fatal five’ are speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, distracted driving, drink and drug driving, and careless and inconsiderate driving.

The Department for Transport (DfT) agreed to stop using ‘accident’ in its communications some time ago, following feedback from affected families and transport professionals.

However, as recently as December 2023 National Highways defended its use of the word as commonly understood by drivers, and in line with roadside signage such as ‘Police Accident’.

In order to make the change, National Highways confirmed it had to first obtain special authorisation from the Department for Transport (DfT), as the legislation, and the road signs manual, known as the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, still uses ‘accident’.

The spokesperson added: “This agreement will be formalised ahead of the system change we intend to make.”

Jamie Hassall, executive director of he Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), welcomed the news.

He said: “We are slowly moving away from using the term ‘accident’ to describe anything from a vehicle stopping on a road to a serious collision where people have been killed.

“It’s important we get the language right and this filters though from the signs on our roads, to the police reports and then how the incident is reported by the press.”

AA’s Edmund King previously described the plateauing of road deaths in the UK at five per day as “an absolute tragedy”.

He said: “Most crashes are not ‘accidents’ but are avoidable, normally by drivers and other road users paying more attention.”

He concluded: “Describing every crash as an ‘accident’ in effect makes excuses for serious incidents.”