Suicide or Accident: The Hidden Complexities of Intentional Road Crashes in Australia

A Difficult Area to Explore

A portion of road fatalities each year are deaths by suicide.

For some, cars and trucks are not just modes of transport – they become a means to intentionally end their lives.

The true scale of this issue is difficult to determine, as coroners and crash investigators often struggle to distinguish suicide from accidental death.

How Bad is the Problem?

Between 2001 and 2017, the rate of suicide involving a road vehicle collision in Australia nearly doubled from 0.125 per 100,000 people to 0.25 per 100,000.

These suicides take several forms.

Some involve single-vehicle crashes where a driver deliberately collides with a tree, pole, or concrete barrier.

Others are multiple-vehicle collisions where a driver or rider intentionally steers into oncoming traffic, often targeting trucks.

There are also pedestrian suicides where people step or lie in front of moving vehicles.

The Ripple Effects

Unlike most other suicide methods, road vehicle collisions pose a significant risk to others.

Intentional crashes can involve unsuspecting drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, turning a personal act of self-harm into a broader public safety issue.

Why is it Difficult to Establish Suicide on the Road?

Determining whether a fatal road crash was intentional or unintentional is fraught with challenges.

Unlike other suicide methods, there is often no definitive proof of intent.

Coroners and crash investigators rely on a patchwork of evidence: eyewitness accounts, vehicle behavior before impact, the driver’s psychological history, and physical crash characteristics.

What Can Be Done?

Reducing suicide-related road crashes requires targeted, practical interventions that make vehicles less likely to be used for suicide. Some ideas include:

1. Vehicle safety features that reduce lethality, such as automatic emergency braking and collision avoidance systems, can make intentional high-speed crashes less likely to be fatal. As such, they could discourage the use of vehicles as a suicide method. Airbags, in particular, can play a crucial role, as they can make the outcome of a crash less predictable for people attempting suicide.

2. A national standardized process for classifying intentional crashes would improve detection and data accuracy. Incorporating psychological autopsies and mandating coroners consider behavioral indicators (such as lack of evasive action) could help identify cases that currently go unreported.

3. Heavy vehicle drivers and first responders should receive specialized training to recognize potential suicide crash indicators and manage the psychological toll of being involved in such incidents.

Conclusion

Reducing suicide-related road crashes requires a multifaceted approach that acknowledges the complexity of this issue. By addressing the challenges of detection, investigation, and prevention, we can work towards a safer and more compassionate society.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How common are road vehicle suicides?

A: International research suggests that driver suicides may account for up to 8-9% of all fatal road crashes, but studies indicate that up to half of these cases may go unreported.

Q: What are the most common forms of road vehicle suicide?

A: Single-vehicle crashes, where a driver deliberately collides with a tree, pole, or concrete barrier, and multiple-vehicle collisions, where a driver or rider intentionally steers into oncoming traffic, are the most common forms of road vehicle suicide.

Q: Why is it difficult to establish suicide on the road?

A: Determining whether a fatal road crash was intentional or unintentional is fraught with challenges, as there is often no definitive proof of intent. Coroners and crash investigators rely on a patchwork of evidence, including eyewitness accounts, vehicle behavior before impact, the driver’s psychological history, and physical crash characteristics.