Fifth pedestrian, cyclist dies in Stockton after being hit by car in less than a month
Five people have been killed in less than a month while walking or riding their bike in Stockton. "That is a lot," said Joe Silva, spokesman for the Stockton Police Department. "What's unique about these traffic fatalities, is there's really no correlation between any of them because they're occurring in different parts of the city, different parts of the day." Silva says a 23-year-old woman was the fifth person to die Saturday morning after she was struck by a vehicle while riding her bicycle on Tam O'Shanter Drive and Hammertown Drive. "The driver of that vehicle did the right thing. He stopped immediately, waited for first responders and law enforcement to arrive, and he cooperated with the investigation," Silva explained. Stockton police wants to remind not just drivers, but also pedestrians and cyclists to be aware of their surroundings at all times. "What we want people to do is just use common sense," Silva said. "If you\'re going to cross the street, you have to find a nearby crosswalk and always look both directions before you cross the street, and if there is heavy traffic, just wait." Silva said the department is concerned with the number of deadly traffic accidents that have occurred in recent weeks. "This week, and in the coming weeks we will be doing some public service announcements on our social media - just reminding people to be vigilant," Silva added.
FramingCounterfactualAccidentObjectAgencyFocus * Not all highlights will be shown above if there are overlapping issues
Problems
Framing 1 issue
Article lacks thematic framing.
Thematic framing helps contextualize a car crash and draw attention to the bigger picture. By including thematic elements such as road design, statistics and trends, quotes, and safety initiatives, readers are more likely to understand that car crashes are foreseeable and preventable.
[Learn more about framing issues]
Five people have been killed in less than a month while walking or riding their bike in Stockton. "That is a lot," said Joe Silva, spokesman for the Stockton Police Department. "What's unique about these traffic fatalities, is there's really no correlation between any of them because they're occurring in different parts of the city, different parts of the day." Silva says a 23-year-old woman was the fifth person to die Saturday morning after she was struck by a vehicle while riding her bicycle on Tam O'Shanter Drive and Hammertown Drive. "The driver of that vehicle did the right thing. He stopped immediately, waited for first responders and law enforcement to arrive, and he cooperated with the investigation," Silva explained. Stockton police wants to remind not just drivers, but also pedestrians and cyclists to be aware of their surroundings at all times. "What we want people to do is just use common sense," Silva said. "If you\'re going to cross the street, you have to find a nearby crosswalk and always look both directions before you cross the street, and if there is heavy traffic, just wait." Silva said the department is concerned with the number of deadly traffic accidents that have occurred in recent weeks. "This week, and in the coming weeks we will be doing some public service announcements on our social media - just reminding people to be vigilant," Silva added.
Include at least 5 thematic elements.
Road design is perhaps the most important factor contributing to car crashes. Articles should mention relevant road design factors based on the circumstances. Look at the list below and incorporate a few relevant statements.
Element
Speed limit
Speed limits play a role in car crashes and are worth mentioning in the article. There is a direct correlation between vehicle speed and crash severity. Many speed limits are established via the 85-percentile rule, meaning the "appropriate" speed for a road is based on what 85% drivers perceive as safe, not what is safe for all road users.
No. of lanes
The number of traffic lanes should be observed in articles. While residential roads may only consist of one lane each way, roads with more traffic may contain more lanes, including a median turn lane. The author should highlight equity disparities; for example, bicycle fatalities have occurred on roads which have five lanes for cars, but have no sidewalks or bike lanes.
Lane width
There is a direct correlation between how wide travel lanes are and how fast drivers operate their vehicles. Wider lanes are known to make drivers feel safer, hence the faster speeds. Authors should draw attention to when residential lane widths are wider than highway lane widths.
Crosswalks
The presence of crosswalks should be noted when pedestrians are involved. When pedestrians do not use crosswalks, the author should attempt to identify if there were any nearby. For example, some injuries and fatalities have occurred where people attempt to cross a road where the nearest crosswalk was unreasonably far away. Also consider nearby complementary facilities such as bus stops where departing riders may need to immediately cross the street.
Sidewalks
The presence of sidewalks should be noted when appropriate, similar to crosswalks above. If articles mention a pedestrian walking in the roadway, journalists should make a quick effort to identify if that road had sidewalks available for use; in some cases, pedestrians have no other option but to walk in the roadway. Local ordinances regarding riding a bicycle on a sidewalk may also be relevant.
Bike lanes
For articles related to bicyclists, details should be mentioned about the presence and parameters of bike lanes. Differences between bike lane facilities should be discussed, such as whether the bike lane is protected via bollards, is physically separated from the roadway or integrated, etc.
Lighting conditions
Many injuries and fatalities occur in the evening when it is darker outside. Street lighting therefore plays a significant role in keeping all road users safe. If reporting on a crash after sunset, attempt to identify the presence and adequacy of street lighting.
Articles can be contextualized by mentioning statistics and trends. Pulling in numbers helps fact-based reporting and draws attention to the bigger picture that crashes have much in common and aren't mere incidents of chance. Local data, such as recent number of crashes on a particular road in recent days/months/years is preferable, but national-level data can always provide a fallback.
Quotes and input from various stakeholders can be included to add a human element and create a sense of community and shared responsibility.
Stakeholders
Local residents
Local residents may know their street's dynamics better than public safety officers or elected officials. They may also have children, which can add to the safety conversation. Seek out quotes or comments from local residents to both gather more information and shape the article's thematic narrative.
Elected officials
Statements from elected officials and policymakers can play an important role in setting the tone for how the community will respond to crashes. They are also in a good position to discuss current and proposed safety initiatives. Contact information for elected officials should be included in the article to improve constituent engagement.
Transportation safety experts
Reach out to local universities and ask if they can provide commentary on crashes, even if only in general terms. Those experts can even discuss road design, statistics and trends, and safety initiatives.
Safety initiatives are an important component to discuss in crash articles. They provide readers with information on what city and state officials are doing (or not doing) to improve public safety. Journalists should mention whether the following initiatives have been implemented, and provide details on what they are:
Vision Zero
"Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all." Learn more about Vision Zero
Traditional approach
Vision Zero approach
Traffic deaths are inevitable
→
Traffic deaths are preventable
Expect perfect human behavior
→
Anticipate and mitigate human failure
Prevent accidents
→
Prevent fatal and severe crashes
Blame individuals
→
Blame systems
Saving lives is expensive
→
Saving lives is not expensive
Complete Streets
"Complete Streets are streets for everyone. They are designed and operated to prioritize safety, comfort, and access to destinations for all people who use the street." Learn more about Complete Streets
Streets are for everyone, not just cars
Create livable communities, including for children, people with disabilities, the elderly, and those who cannot afford a car
Design and operate the entire right of way to prioritize safer, slower speeds for all people who use the road, over high speeds for motor vehicles
DWI checkpoints
DWI checkpoints are set up to catch drivers under the influence. Does your local police department conduct these checkpoints? How often do they occur?
High-visibility enforcement
Conspicuous presence of traffic enforcement sends a signal to motorists to obey the rules of the road, and that traffic safety is taken seriously. Does your local police department have a high-visibility enforcement program?
Accident 1 issue
Article uses the word "accident".
The word "accident" distracts from the preventable nature of car crashes, and implies inevitability and faultlessness for this systemic problem.
[Learn more about accident issues]
Five people have been killed in less than a month while walking or riding their bike in Stockton. "That is a lot," said Joe Silva, spokesman for the Stockton Police Department. "What's unique about these traffic fatalities, is there's really no correlation between any of them because they're occurring in different parts of the city, different parts of the day." Silva says a 23-year-old woman was the fifth person to die Saturday morning after she was struck by a vehicle while riding her bicycle on Tam O'Shanter Drive and Hammertown Drive. "The driver of that vehicle did the right thing. He stopped immediately, waited for first responders and law enforcement to arrive, and he cooperated with the investigation," Silva explained. Stockton police wants to remind not just drivers, but also pedestrians and cyclists to be aware of their surroundings at all times. "What we want people to do is just use common sense," Silva said. "If you\'re going to cross the street, you have to find a nearby crosswalk and always look both directions before you cross the street, and if there is heavy traffic, just wait." Silva said the department is concerned with the number of deadly traffic accidents that have occurred in recent weeks. "This week, and in the coming weeks we will be doing some public service announcements on our social media - just reminding people to be vigilant," Silva added.
Prefer the words crash, collision, or incident.
The car crash has left two injured.
The accident has left two injured.
Object 1 issue
Emphasis is placed on object instead of its agent.
Referring to objects (e.g. vehicle, car) instead of humans (e.g. driver) neutralizes blame, and inconsistent application of this writing assigns unequal blame on VRUs.
[Learn more about object issues]
Five people have been killed in less than a month while walking or riding their bike in Stockton. "That is a lot," said Joe Silva, spokesman for the Stockton Police Department. "What's unique about these traffic fatalities, is there's really no correlation between any of them because they're occurring in different parts of the city, different parts of the day." Silva says a 23-year-old woman was the fifth person to die Saturday morning after she was struck by a vehicle while riding her bicycle on Tam O'Shanter Drive and Hammertown Drive. "The driver of that vehicle did the right thing. He stopped immediately, waited for first responders and law enforcement to arrive, and he cooperated with the investigation," Silva explained. Stockton police wants to remind not just drivers, but also pedestrians and cyclists to be aware of their surroundings at all times. "What we want people to do is just use common sense," Silva said. "If you\'re going to cross the street, you have to find a nearby crosswalk and always look both directions before you cross the street, and if there is heavy traffic, just wait." Silva said the department is concerned with the number of deadly traffic accidents that have occurred in recent weeks. "This week, and in the coming weeks we will be doing some public service announcements on our social media - just reminding people to be vigilant," Silva added.
Use people-based language instead of object-based language.
The driver crashed into the woman.
The driver of the SUV fled the scene.
The man was injured after being hit by the driver of a 2014 Ford Escape.
The SUV crashed into the woman.
The SUV fled the scene.
The man was injured after being hit by a 2014 Ford Escape.