It's remarkably consistent.
If you encounter any media outlet reporting a "struck by a car" #AbsentDriver story, search their website for phrases such as "by a cyclist".
Chances are you'll find at least one report that clearly attributes agency to a person on a bike.
bsky.app/profile/cosa...
If you encounter any media outlet reporting a "struck by a car" #AbsentDriver story, search their website for phrases such as "by a cyclist".
Chances are you'll find at least one report that clearly attributes agency to a person on a bike.
bsky.app/profile/cosa...
Compare: 👇
"Police are renewing their appeal for information after a woman was struck by a cyclist."
theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2018/07/rene...
"Police are renewing their appeal for information after a woman was struck by a cyclist."
theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2018/07/rene...
Renewed appeal after woman injured on pedestrian crossing
Police are renewing their appeal for information after a woman was struck by a cyclist on a pedestrian crossing between Gayfield Square and London Road around 7.25pm on Monday evening. The 54-year-old...
theedinburghreporter.co.uk
November 4, 2026 at 9:55 AM
It's remarkably consistent.
If you encounter any media outlet reporting a "struck by a car" #AbsentDriver story, search their website for phrases such as "by a cyclist".
Chances are you'll find at least one report that clearly attributes agency to a person on a bike.
bsky.app/profile/cosa...
If you encounter any media outlet reporting a "struck by a car" #AbsentDriver story, search their website for phrases such as "by a cyclist".
Chances are you'll find at least one report that clearly attributes agency to a person on a bike.
bsky.app/profile/cosa...
A woman in her 70s has died after she was struck by a car in Co Roscommon yesterday evening.
Woman, 70s, dies after being struck by car in Roscommon
A woman in her 70s has died after she was struck by a car in Co Roscommon yesterday evening.
www.rte.ie
October 12, 2026 at 8:25 AM
Pedestrian killed: #AbsentDriver
Motorist receives multiple speeding fines over a period of several days: "families on the brink".
Motorist receives multiple speeding fines over a period of several days: "families on the brink".
First headline to my phone this morning
September 26, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Pedestrian killed: #AbsentDriver
Motorist receives multiple speeding fines over a period of several days: "families on the brink".
Motorist receives multiple speeding fines over a period of several days: "families on the brink".
Standard #absentdriver reporting from the @chroniclelive.co.uk
September 16, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Standard #absentdriver reporting from the @chroniclelive.co.uk
A two-year old child has been rushed to hospital after being knocked down by a vehicle in Rathkeale, Co Limerick.
The child is understood to be in serious condition.
jrnl.ie/7153678
The child is understood to be in serious condition.
jrnl.ie/7153678
Two-year-old child in serious condition after being hit by vehicle in Co Limerick
The child was airlifted to University Hospital Limerick.
jrnl.ie
September 6, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Boy (2) hit and killed by jeep in Co Limerick named locally
Boy (2) hit and killed by jeep in Co Limerick named locally
Child had been playing on a toy tractor at time of incident in the town of Rathkeale on Saturday
www.irishtimes.com
September 6, 2026 at 6:24 PM
‘A little angel’ - Boy (2) killed by car in Rathkeale is named as gardaí release man
‘A little angel’ - Boy (2) killed by car in Rathkeale is named as gardaí release man
A young boy who died after being struck by a car in Co Limerick has been named locally.
www.independent.ie
September 6, 2026 at 6:23 PM
"Struck by a car ... the vehicle involved in the collision did not remain at the scene."
#AbsentDriver
#AbsentDriver
A two-year-old boy, who died in a hit-and-run incident in Co Limerick, has been named locally as Peter Mulcaire.
Rathkeale 'in shock' at death of boy, 2, in hit-and-run
A two-year-old boy, who died in a hit-and-run incident in Co Limerick, has been named locally as Peter Mulcaire.
www.rte.ie
September 6, 2026 at 6:21 PM
"Struck by a car ... the vehicle involved in the collision did not remain at the scene."
#AbsentDriver
#AbsentDriver
A teenage boy has died following a hit-and-run incident in Co Clare. jrnl.ie/7153407
Teenage boy on e-bike dies following hit-and-run in Co Clare
The teenage boy was found unresponsive by the roadside shortly after 11pm on Friday.
jrnl.ie
September 5, 2026 at 10:07 AM
"A second vehicle involved in the incident failed to remain at the scene."
The exact same wording as above.
It would seem that one of the main sources of the #AbsentDriver trope is @garda.ie.
www.rte.ie/news/ireland...
The exact same wording as above.
It would seem that one of the main sources of the #AbsentDriver trope is @garda.ie.
www.rte.ie/news/ireland...
Teenage boy on e-bike dies in hit-and-run in Co Clare
A teenage boy has died following a hit-and-run incident in Co Clare last night.
www.rte.ie
September 5, 2026 at 10:12 AM
"A second vehicle involved in the incident failed to remain at the scene."
The exact same wording as above.
It would seem that one of the main sources of the #AbsentDriver trope is @garda.ie.
www.rte.ie/news/ireland...
The exact same wording as above.
It would seem that one of the main sources of the #AbsentDriver trope is @garda.ie.
www.rte.ie/news/ireland...
'Number of fatalities' and four injured after car drives on wrong side of motorway
The collision occurred on on the M9 Northbound at about 03:00 local time on Sunday in County Kildare.
The collision occurred on on the M9 Northbound at about 03:00 local time on Sunday in County Kildare.
August 16, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Daily Record & Sunday Mail - Scottish News, Sport, Politics and…
@dailyrecord.co.uk.web.brid.gy
· Aug 16
M9 crash: Four dead in horror head-on collision after car 'drove wrong way' down motorway
The scene is currently being preserved for examination by forensic collision investigators.
www.dailyrecord.co.uk
August 16, 2026 at 5:03 PM
No mention of a driver anywhere in this slop. #AbsentDriver #AutowaCitizen
Ottawa pedestrian in serious condition after being struck by vehicle ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa-...
August 15, 2026 at 12:01 PM
No mention of a driver anywhere in this slop. #AbsentDriver #AutowaCitizen
'“The driver stopped the car suddenly.”
Sure, this is OK if we want to focus on the driver.
But we’re not interested in the driver.
The behaviour of the car is more important.
“The car stopped suddenly.”
Bingo!'
www.clarkandmiller.com/ergative-ver...
Sure, this is OK if we want to focus on the driver.
But we’re not interested in the driver.
The behaviour of the car is more important.
“The car stopped suddenly.”
Bingo!'
www.clarkandmiller.com/ergative-ver...
Are you using ergative verbs unnaturally? I bet you are!
We're about to take a look at ergative verbs in English. You might also like How to Use "Get" in English. Let’s look at these weird sentences: "Some people in a factory made my phone in China." "So...
www.clarkandmiller.com
June 15, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Earlier this week we were called to a road traffic collision in St Stephens Green Park, where a car entered the pond.
Firefighter/Paramedics from Tara Street and Dolphins Barn responded, along with a District Officer and ambulance.
Firefighter/Paramedics from Tara Street and Dolphins Barn responded, along with a District Officer and ambulance.
June 14, 2026 at 8:43 PM
On Sunday morning we responded to a road traffic collision where a car left the road.
The in vehicle Car SOS systwm activated, alerting us and gave us a location to go to.
The in vehicle Car SOS systwm activated, alerting us and gave us a location to go to.
June 11, 2026 at 7:45 AM
How @news.rte.ie reported the incident in January 2025:
"A cyclist has been seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident in Co Louth yesterday.
The man, who is in his 40s, was struck by a vehicle on the R132 in Dromiskin at around 6.25pm."
#AbsentDriver
www.rte.ie/news/leinste...
"A cyclist has been seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident in Co Louth yesterday.
The man, who is in his 40s, was struck by a vehicle on the R132 in Dromiskin at around 6.25pm."
#AbsentDriver
www.rte.ie/news/leinste...
Cyclist seriously injured in Louth hit-and-run incident
A cyclist has been seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident in Co Louth yesterday.
www.rte.ie
May 9, 2026 at 7:40 AM
How @news.rte.ie reported the incident in January 2025:
"A cyclist has been seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident in Co Louth yesterday.
The man, who is in his 40s, was struck by a vehicle on the R132 in Dromiskin at around 6.25pm."
#AbsentDriver
www.rte.ie/news/leinste...
"A cyclist has been seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident in Co Louth yesterday.
The man, who is in his 40s, was struck by a vehicle on the R132 in Dromiskin at around 6.25pm."
#AbsentDriver
www.rte.ie/news/leinste...
Two killed after car ploughs into crowd of people in Leipzig, Germany
Two killed after car ploughs into crowd of people in Leipzig, Germany
Local media reported at least eight more people were injured in the incident in Leipzig. A driver was also arrested
www.irishtimes.com
May 4, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Pedestrian (80s) dies after being struck by car in Longford town
Pedestrian (80s) dies after being struck by car in Longford town
Man was airlifted to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin after incident on Tuesday morning
www.irishtimes.com
April 29, 2026 at 9:08 AM
"A car driving at full speed"
"The car was not going to stop"
"Cyclists breaking the lights"
#AbsentDriver
"The car was not going to stop"
"Cyclists breaking the lights"
#AbsentDriver
March 9, 2026 at 3:42 PM
"A car driving at full speed"
"The car was not going to stop"
"Cyclists breaking the lights"
#AbsentDriver
"The car was not going to stop"
"Cyclists breaking the lights"
#AbsentDriver
Mia Lily Keogh O’Keeffe had been walking her dog near her home on the Slane Road in Navan when she was struck by a car at a pedestrian crossing about 8.20pm on Saturday.
She was one of seven people who died on the roads across the island of Ireland that day
She was one of seven people who died on the roads across the island of Ireland that day
‘She was just walking her dog’ – girl (16) killed in hit-and-run among seven dead in worst 24-hour road toll in decade
A 16-year-old girl killed in a hit-and-run in Co Meath was among seven people who died on Irish roads within a 24-hour period, marking one of the darkest days of the year so far.
www.independent.ie
February 23, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Pedestrian dies following collision with truck in Swords
Pedestrian dies following collision with truck in Swords
Woman (60s) pronounced dead at the scene as gardaí seek assistance of small silver hatchback driver
www.irishtimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Pedestrian dies after car collision in Co Kildare
Pedestrian dies after car collision in Co Kildare
Man (40s) pronounced dead at scene after fatal crash on Tuesday evening
www.irishtimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:06 PM
A man in his 70s has died after he was struck by a car on the N11 in Dublin yesterday evening.
Man, 70s, dies after being struck by car on N11 in Dublin
A man in his 70s has died after he was struck by a car in Dublin yesterday evening.
www.rte.ie
December 9, 2025 at 10:37 AM