A new campaign has been launched in Florida in an effort to reduce the number of hit-and-run crashes and fatalities.
Last year hit-and-run crash fatalities increased by more than 18 percent in the State, even though total hit-and-run crashes decreased by 13 percent compared to 2019.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) is leading the Stay at the Scene campaign this month.
In partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Association of Crime Stoppers, and AAA – The Auto Club Group, the Stay at the Scene campaign aims to educate drivers on their responsibilities if involved in a crash, the serious consequences they face if they do not stay at the scene, and how motorists can easily and anonymously report tips on hit-and-run crashes to law enforcement.
“When you flee the scene of a crash, you’re not only breaking the law, you could be leaving someone who needs immediate medical attention,” said FLHSMV Executive Director, Terry L Rhodes.
“While being involved in a crash can be scary, choosing to flee from the scene can have life-altering consequences. Remember: If you are involved in a crash, Stay at the Scene.”
The vast majority of hit-and-run fatalities occur at night or during low-light hours. According to an FLHSMV analysis, 85 percent of all hit-and-run fatalities from 2015 to 2020 occurred during dawn, dusk, or night-time conditions.
Motorists are urged to drive safely and look twice for vulnerable road users, especially when there is low visibility. Vulnerable road users are particularly at risk. Of the 254 hit-and-run fatalities in 2020, 137 were pedestrians and 25 were bicyclists.
