@article{ref1,
title="Suicide by crashing into a heavy vehicle: focus on professional drivers using in-depth crash data",
journal="Traffic injury prevention",
year="2019",
author="Radun, Igor and Parkkari, Inkeri and Radun, Jenni and Kaistinen, Jyrki and Kecklund, Göran and Olivier, Jake and Tervo, Timo and Theorell, Tores",
volume="20",
number="6",
pages="575-580",
abstract="<b>Objective:</b> Road traffic suicides typically involve a passenger car driver crashing his or her vehicle into a heavy vehicle, because death is almost certain due to the large mass difference between these vehicles. For the same reason, heavy-vehicle drivers typically suffer minor injuries, if any, and have thus received little attention in the research literature. In this study, we focused on heavy-vehicle drivers who were involved as the second party in road suicides in Finland. <b>Methods:</b> We analyzed 138 road suicides (2011-2016) involving a passenger car crashing into a heavy vehicle. We used in-depth road crash investigation data from the Finnish Crash Data Institute. <b>Results:</b> The results showed that all but 2 crashes were head-on collisions. Almost 30% of truck drivers were injured, but only a few suffered serious injuries. More than a quarter reported sick leave following their crash. Injury insurance compensation to heavy-vehicle drivers was just above €9,000 on average. Material damage to heavy vehicles was significant, with average insurance compensation paid being €70,500. Three out of 4 truck drivers reported that drivers committing suicide acted abruptly and left them little opportunity for preventive action. <b>Conclusions:</b> Suicides by crashing into heavy vehicles can have an impact on drivers' well-being; however, it is difficult to see how heavy-vehicle drivers could avoid a suicide attempt involving their vehicle.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1538-9588",
doi="10.1080/15389588.2019.1633466",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2019.1633466"
}