Autocide

/ˈɔːtəsaɪd/ noun

Definition

The act of killing oneself in a vehicle, either through intentional crash or by being struck by one's own vehicle; also refers to traffic accidents that are self-caused.

Etymology

From 'auto' (self/automobile) and '-cide' (killing). The term combines the prefix for self or car with the Latin suffix for killing, literally meaning 'self-killing by automobile.'

Kelly Says

This is a dark but precise medical and forensic term—when someone dies in a car accident caused by their own actions, it's technically autocide rather than just 'accident.' The term forces us to confront responsibility in motor vehicle deaths rather than treating them as inevitable.

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