Young Road Fatalities

Abstract

This study presents the findings from in-depth interviews with 24 people from 15 families in Norway who lost their young son or daughter in a traffic accident. Their grief has several dimensions: the loss of a young life, the loss of life quality, the effect on family events and their meaning, and the new responsibilities brought onto family members. For each young fatality, many relatives and friends are affected with a wide range of emotional and socioeconomic consequences. Parents report that grief is more overwhelming during the first few years and never disappears, while over the years they slowly learn to cope with it. Here we especially highlight the role of traffic authorities and what professional actors can do to meet the bereaved with empathy and minimize negative effects.