[junipergreen]

The word "accident" is really indicative of the culture. Words shape how we think about things. As someone who's lived and cycled in both the US and Western Europe, I can say that the level of personal responsibility W. European drivers seemed to feel for not killing me was much higher. US drivers will zip past me at high speeds with a foot of clearance. It makes you feel like they think hitting you would be similar running over a squirrel. Of course most drivers who hit cyclists feel absolutely distraught after it happens--they're not monsters. But it baffles me how many Americans seemed surprised that could happen until it does.