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.Abstract Teaser