The gravity of phone poles

Today on the way into work I noticed a set tire marks which led directly into a phone pole. There was nothing wrong with the phone pole save a tiny bit of wood shredding. Around the phone pole in any direction was completely level grass land, yet the person in the vehicle that made the tire marks chose to hit the phone pole.

I know it's easy to say that when you're in the moment of an accident you don't have much reaction time, but if there is green grass all around the pole, do we instead assume it's safer to hit the pole so that we will stop instead of taking our chances in the grass which might actually be a ditch, or might allow us to continue moving because the slickness of the grass does not allow sufficient friction for stopping and the vehicle then ends up hitting a person or a house or some other inanimate object? Are phone poles our safety nets?

I've never personally hit a phone pole, but have seen the results of a few phone pole run-ins and always wonder if perhaps the person was suicidal. Every time I see someone hit a phone pole in a movie the person is either dead or seriously banged up, so I somehow conclude that in real life no one would intentionally choose to hit a phone pole during an accident situation. But, then I think about the safety net idea and I become confused.

Anyone have a feeling one way or the other: safety net or suicide tool?