Suicide by vehicular crash

Am J Psychiatry. 1977 Feb;134(2):175-8. doi: 10.1176/ajp.134.2.175.

Abstract

The authors evaluated data on 182 fatally injured and 96 nonfatally injured drivers involved in vehicular crashes over a 6-year period. Only 1.7% of the total fatal crashes were considered to have been suicides, and 1% of the nonfatal crashes were deemed suicide attempts. Neither group of drivers had unusually high incidences of previous suicidal ideation or behavior, but both groups tended to be socially deviant, with above average levels of psychopathology and social aggressiveness. Crash victims in both groups also had poor driving records and high rates of alcohol abuse, findings that have important implications for accident prevention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic*
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aggression
  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Black or African American
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Seat Belts
  • Sex Ratio
  • Social Behavior
  • Social Control, Formal
  • Suicide*
  • Suicide, Attempted