SINGLE-CAR ROAD DEATHS - DISGUISED SUICIDES?

The authors examine the possibility of single-car, single-occupant road deaths, of being actually suicides as is often claimed. If this should be the case the epidemiological implications would be serious as these deaths are recorded as accidents and are therefore excluded from the suicide rate. If a substantial number of these deaths are deliberate then (1) their seasonal variation would be similar to those of suicides, and (2) they would occur independently of road conditions. From TRRL data on single-car accidents it was found that such road deaths differed from suicide deaths on three characteristics examined. It was found that the psychological state of driver involved in road accidents was close to normal. Only 20% were similar to suicidal subjects in the characteristic of increased alcohol intake. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00071447
• Corporate Authors:

  British Medical Association

  BMA House, Tavistock Square
  London WC1H 9JR,   United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • JENKINS, J
  • Sainsburgy, P
• Publication Date: 1980-10-18

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 1041
• Serial:
  • BMJ
  • Volume: 281
  • Publisher: British Medical Association
  • ISSN: 0959-8138
  • Serial URL: http://www.bmj.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Crash causes; Crash investigation; Drivers; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Fatalities; Psychological aspects; Single vehicle crashes; Suicide
• ITRD Terms: 9003: Cause; 1772: Driver; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 1602: Fatality; 9054: One; 2255: Psychology; 2146: Suicide
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00330254
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 15 1981 12:00AM