In London, there are 80 people injured per week in hit and runs
In London, there are 80 people injured per week in hit and runs
Hit and run collisions have doubled. Why are so many drivers not stopping after an accident?
Hit and run collisions have doubled. Why are so many drivers not stopping after an accident?
It's no longer an occasional act of selfishness or panic. Hit and runs are now an everyday occurrence - in London alone 80 people are left injured on the roads each week.
It's no longer an occasional act of selfishness or panic. Hit-and-runs are now an everyday occurrence - in London alone 80 people are left injured on the roads each week.
In parts of the capital, one in four pedestrian injuries are now caused by hit and run collisions, with drivers failing to stop to see the damage they've left behind them.
In parts of the capital, one in four pedestrian injuries are now caused by hit and run collisions, with drivers failing to stop to see the damage they've left behind them.
The Mayor of London's road safety ambassador, Jenny Jones, says that "London has become a city where many drivers expect to break the rules and get away with it".
The Mayor of London's road safety ambassador, Jenny Jones, says that "London has become a city where many drivers expect to break the rules and get away with it".
And a House of Commons Transport Select Committee report this week highlighted MPs' growing concern about the problem.
And a House of Commons Transport Select Committee report this week highlighted MPs' growing concern about the problem.
While the overall number of road injuries is falling - the number of hit and runs is rising, particularly in London - causing serious grief to victims and their families.
While the overall number of road injuries is falling - the number of hit-and-runs is rising, particularly in London - causing serious grief to victims and their families.
'Horrific'
'Horrific'
"Any road death is sudden, violent and horrific," says Maggie Garside of the Road Victims Trust, a campaign that supports people bereaved in traffic accidents.
"Any road death is sudden, violent and horrific," says Maggie Garside of the Road Victims Trust, a campaign that supports people bereaved in traffic accidents.
Hit and run accidents can account for a quarter of casualties
Hit and run accidents can account for a quarter of casualties
"In a hit and run collision there is the added distress that someone has collided with the person and then left them... The image of how their loved one died is difficult enough, but to know that someone did not even stop to see if they could help them feels inhuman."
"In a hit-and-run collision there is the added distress that someone has collided with the person and then left them... The image of how their loved one died is difficult enough, but to know that someone did not even stop to see if they could help them feels inhuman."
So what's causing such a change in behaviour - with hit and runs doubling in less than a decade? In London in the 1990s, hit and runs were 8% of accidents, now they're 16% - with 25% in the borough of Hackney.
So what's causing such a change in behaviour - with hit and runs doubling in less than a decade? In London in the 1990s, hit-and-runs were 8% of accidents, now they're 16% - with 25% in the borough of Hackney.
Giving evidence to the select committee, Chris Lines, head of the road safety unit for Transport for London, described the problem as an "epidemic".
Giving evidence to the select committee, Chris Lines, head of the road safety unit for Transport for London, described the problem as an "epidemic".
And the capital's transport body points to a connection with another recurrent problem - the disturbingly large number of people driving without any insurance or tax.
And the capital's transport body points to a connection with another recurrent problem - the disturbingly large number of people driving without any insurance or tax.
Such illegal drivers, already operating outside of road regulations, are disproportionately much more likely to drive badly and be involved in collisions, says a TfL spokesman.
Such illegal drivers, already operating outside of road regulations, are disproportionately much more likely to drive badly and be involved in collisions, says a TfL spokesman.
And as they're already committing an offence by driving a car, they're less likely to stop when they knock someone down.
And as they're already committing an offence by driving a car, they're less likely to stop when they knock someone down.
It is a problem replicated across the country, as in the case of schoolboy Jack Anderson, 10, who died in Edinburgh in October, after being struck by a car that failed to stop.
It is a problem replicated across the country, as in the case of schoolboy Jack Anderson, 10, who died in Edinburgh in October, after being struck by a car that failed to stop.
Inner-city areas
Inner-city areas
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), there are around a million uninsured drivers on the road - concentrated in inner-city areas, with the highest rates in Tottenham in north London and Southwark in south London.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), there are about a million uninsured drivers on the road - concentrated in inner-city areas, with the highest rates in Tottenham in north London and Southwark in south London.
A crackdown is underway in hit and run hotspots in London
A crackdown is under way in hit and run hotspots in London
These illegal drivers are 10 times more likely to drink drive, six times more likely to drive an unroadworthy car and three times more likely to be convicted of dangerous driving, says the ABI's Malcolm Tarling.
These illegal drivers are 10 times more likely to drink drive, six times more likely to drive an unroadworthy car and three times more likely to be convicted of dangerous driving, says the ABI's Malcolm Tarling.
And any of these factors - or drug-driving or fear of being detained for other offences - could make a driver more likely not to stop after an accident.
And any of these factors - or drug-driving or fear of being detained for other offences - could make a driver more likely not to stop after an accident.
The police and TfL are mounting a joint campaign in north-east London to reduce the numbers of illegally-driven cars - with the aim of reducing the number of hit and runs.
The police and TfL are mounting a joint campaign in north-east London to reduce the numbers of illegally driven cars - with the aim of reducing the number of hit-and-runs.
But the transport select committee also questioned whether a reliance on speed cameras rather than traffic policing is less effective in deterring crimes such as failing to stop.
But the transport select committee also questioned whether a reliance on speed cameras rather than traffic policing is less effective in deterring crimes such as failing to stop.
Motoring outlaws
Motoring outlaws
But tackling the hit and run problem is going to be difficult, says the AA Motoring Trust.
Tackling the hit-and-run problem is going to be difficult, says the AA Motoring Trust.
MPs warned that technology should not replace traffic police
MPs warned that technology should not replace traffic police
Because it means getting to grips with a hard core of "motoring outlaws" who systematically ignore regulations, says Andrew Howard, the AA's head of road safety.
Because it means getting to grips with a hard core of "motoring outlaws" who systematically ignore regulations, says Andrew Howard, the AA's head of road safety.
These drivers might be without any current driving licence, driving untaxed, uninsured vehicles - with the cars themselves no longer legally registered either.
These drivers might be without any current driving licence, driving untaxed, uninsured vehicles - with the cars themselves no longer legally registered either.
The Metropolitan police says that it's keeping up the pressure on illegally driven cars - with seizures of uninsured vehicles and the use of technology, such as cameras that can read number plates and identify rogue vehicles.
The Metropolitan Police says that it's keeping up the pressure on illegally driven cars - with seizures of uninsured vehicles and the use of technology, such as cameras that can read number plates and identify rogue vehicles.
But what about the victims of such hit and run accidents?
But what about the victims of such hit-and-run accidents?
Cynthia Barlow of RoadPeace, a charity for road crash victims, says the law fails to acknowledge the consequences of road accidents.
Cynthia Barlow of RoadPeace, a charity for road crash victims, says the law fails to acknowledge the consequences of road accidents.
"Where a death has occurred - somebody should be charged with causing a death. At the moment they're not - the law decriminalises what's happening... people are getting away with murder in a literal sense.
"Where a death has occurred - somebody should be charged with causing a death. At the moment they're not - the law decriminalises what's happening... people are getting away with murder in a literal sense.
"It's not making people accountable for their behaviour. If a person thinks they're grown up enough to get in a car and drive - they should be responsible for what they do in it.
"It's not making people accountable for their behaviour. If a person thinks they're grown up enough to get in a car and drive - they should be responsible for what they do in it.
"We're not going to make people safer on the road until we change that attitude and make them accountable for what they do."
"We're not going to make people safer on the road until we change that attitude and make them accountable for what they do."
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