Skye and Lochalsh ‘hit and runs’ prompt police warning

Police in Skye and Lochalsh have reminded drivers of their responsibilities when they are involved in a collision after a spate of ‘hit and run’ collisions were reported this month, writes Neill Bo Finlayson.

Officers say a spate of incidents have been reported to police – many of which are completely avoidable.

Drivers have a responsibility to stop at the scene of any road collision they are involved in and if this is not possible they must report it to a police station within 24 hours in person or by phoning 101.

It is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 to fail to stop at the scene if it was possible to do so and also to fail to report the collision within 24 hours to the police.

Constable Scott Templeman from the local policing team on Skye said: ‘There have been numerous recent instances where vehicles have been damaged while parked in car parks with no details of the offending vehicle being left and instances where vehicles have been damaged by clipping wing mirrors in the passing and only one vehicle has subsequently stopped.

‘We all understand that collisions happen and this is becoming more common place during the summer when the local roads are busy.

‘If both drivers stop at the scene of a collision they can deal with the incident themselves by exchanging insurance details. This is then classed as a non-reportable road accident and no further police involvement is required. Police need only get involved if there are injuries or assistance is required with the roadway being blocked or traffic flow impeded.’

Recently a number of drivers have been cautioned and charged with failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision and failing to report a road traffic collision within 24 hours and are now the subject of crime reports to the procurator fiscal.

These criminal charges would have been unnecessary if details were swapped at the time. Constable Templeman added: ‘We would ask that if members of the public see a collision where one or more of the vehicles fail to stop that they note the registration number of the relevant vehicle down and inform police as soon as it is practical to do so.

‘Then we will be able to trace drivers and carry out the relevant enquiry to have both parties adequately informed to deal with their respective insurance companies or vehicle hire company.’