Drivers f lee in 1 in 10 serious crashes
BRItAIn is in the grip of a hit and run epidemic, experts warned last night.
Drivers flee the scene of one in every ten road crashes where somebody is injured.
In many cases motorists admitted they were more concerned with ‘self-preservation’ than informing the authorities. others simply did not think the collision was serious enough to report and were not aware it is their legal duty.
the figures came after a 12-hour manhunt for a driver who was being chased by police when he killed a pedestrian.
An independent watchdog is investigating the tragedy a stone’s throw from Brighton’s historic pier on tuesday evening. the Vauxhall Astra which hit the 78-year-old man was found abandoned less than a mile away.
Research for the Motor Insurance Bureau, which compensates victims of drivers without insurance or those who fail to stop, found that in 12 per cent of road accidents reported to police where someone is injured, a ‘hit and run’ driver is involved.
that is a total of 17,122 in just one year – an average of 47 a day – and the trend shows the number is increasing.
Criminologists at the University of Leicester then tracked down those responsible for fleeing the scene of accidents to find out why.
A large number said they didn’t think the incident was serious enough to report or were unaware of the legal requirement to report it.
Trying to hide other crimes
Some said they were trying to hide other crimes, were driving without insurance or were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Dr Matt Hopkins, from the university, said: ‘there seems to be a public perception that motoring offences are not “real crimes” and therefore there is a tendency for drivers to justify their behaviour.’
Ashton West, of the Motoring Insurance Bureau, said the organisation handled 15,000 claims a year from hit and run victims.’
In Brighton, witnesses said the victim was thrown through the air by the speeding car.
Sussex police confirmed a 33-year-old man – identified locally as a Hungarian who was sleeping rough – later handed himself in. He was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, drink driving, failing to stop for police and failing to report an accident.
there have been a series of similar fatal hit and run tragedies in recent months, with an inquest adjourned yesterday so police could track a killer. officers say it is only a matter of time before they identify who was at the wheel when Mary Humpherson, 88, was killed in Birmingham in october.