As people, we use ‘accident’ to describe a multitude of consequences of human error, though most dictionaries insist an accident is ‘an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally’.

Certainly, no one wishes for it, but as for unexpectedly, accidents all too often result from no forethought, poor planning, or risky behaviour.

For instance, the Royal Life Saving Society is campaigning about the distractions that can take away the concentration required for proper poolside supervision, and key among these is the mobile phone.

Mobile phones ring, text messages beep, and the mobile internet offers all sorts of fascinating flim-flam, but we cannot tell ourselves that any of this is unexpected, nor that our attention to it is unintentional.

Similarly, on country roads, where police beg us to not only drive to the law, but to the conditions, we cannot tell ourselves that other vehicles are unexpected; nor sustained speeding, unintentional.

Let’s benchmark accidents as incidents over which we had no control. Everything else, let’s be accountable for. Our lives – all lives – depend upon it.

News that Goulburn Mulwaree Council will explore a second access for the busy South Goulburn service centre will be music to the ears of many.

Any local caught up in the bottleneck traffic of a weekend around Sowerby Street will tell you it’s a nightmare.

Residents usually resort to going around the back of the Big Merino and the roundabout to access town. This clearly poses safety problems in an already congested area.

The single access also affects tourism. It is at times difficult for people to turn right into the Bakery of Goulburn, leading some to give up.

The second access, if realised, will help locals at least and relieve some of the safety issues at this increasingly popular service centre area. It’s also essential the council achieves better pedestrian flow.

The Employment Lands Strategy commissioned by the council makes worthy recommendations for the area, which shows no sign of slowing.