In England and Wales, every road fatality is handled by the coroner system, the public office responsible for investigating, defining, and processing every sudden death. This chapter considers procedures for handling fatalities, and argues that the use of the term `accident' in relation to road death may be inappropriate. It is based on a study of the coroner system, begun in 1993. The study collected data through in-depth interviews with coroners, their staff, police officers, bereaved families, and other expert and lay witnesses. Long observations of courtroom procedures were also undertaken. The chapter discusses: (1) the coroner system in England; (2) what happens at the scene of death, and what investigations are made there; (3) the definition of `accidental death'; and (4) procedures at the inquest. Although the inquest is supposed to find the root causes of a death, many consider that it is a pointless exercise, because it all too often signals the conclusion of an inquiry, in situations where further inquiry and legal processes are needed. It often loses the social consequences and their implications. The system encourages the explanation of road fatalities in a language of `accidents' and `blamelessness'; while this is done, they will continue to be viewed as essentially `uncontrollable'.
Samenvatting