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| Hit and run accidents: Report finds numbers on the rise | Hit and run accidents: Report finds numbers on the rise |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Many defendants in road accident cases did not know they were legally required to stop, university researchers say. | Many defendants in road accident cases did not know they were legally required to stop, university researchers say. |
| Leicester University's Criminology Department found more than 17,000 cases in 2015 involved a hit and run driver. | Leicester University's Criminology Department found more than 17,000 cases in 2015 involved a hit and run driver. |
| This was 12% of all road accidents in Great Britain involving injury, and the second annual increase in a row. | This was 12% of all road accidents in Great Britain involving injury, and the second annual increase in a row. |
| Many drivers "really weren't aware of what to do after they'd had an accident," the university's Dr Matt Hopkins said. | Many drivers "really weren't aware of what to do after they'd had an accident," the university's Dr Matt Hopkins said. |
| Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 requires that drivers involved in an accident must stop where | Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 requires that drivers involved in an accident must stop where |
| They must also exchange details as appropriate, or report the accident within 24 hours. | They must also exchange details as appropriate, or report the accident within 24 hours. |
| The research was commissioned by the Motor Insurers' Bureau, which compensates the innocent victims of accidents involving uninsured drivers and those who did not stop. | The research was commissioned by the Motor Insurers' Bureau, which compensates the innocent victims of accidents involving uninsured drivers and those who did not stop. |
| It included data on 695 people convicted of committing a hit and run offence who responded to a postal survey (out of 19,071 surveys which were sent out) including 52 in-depth interviews. The researchers say they identified a number of common reasons why people leave the scene of an accident: | It included data on 695 people convicted of committing a hit and run offence who responded to a postal survey (out of 19,071 surveys which were sent out) including 52 in-depth interviews. The researchers say they identified a number of common reasons why people leave the scene of an accident: |
| Of the 52 interviewees 41 were male and 10 under the age of 34. | |
| "Interestingly, 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," said Dr Hopkins. | "Interestingly, 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," said Dr Hopkins. |
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