consciousness marketing campaign reduces hit-and-run crashes and fatalities in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA— February is Hit-and-Run Consciousness Month in Florida, and the Florida Division of Freeway Security and Motor Autos and its division of the Florida Freeway Patrol are main the state’s “Keep on the Scene” marketing campaign to stop these crashes, cut back fatalities and accidents, and convey justice to households impacted by these crimes.
FLHSMV’s knowledge evaluation reveals a constructive enchancment from final 12 months, however yearly hit-and-run totals in Florida underscore a disturbing development.
In 2022, the entire variety of hit-and-run crashes throughout the state decreased by 5% in comparison with 2021. In that very same comparability, fatalities from hit-and-runs had been down by 13%, and critical bodily accidents from hit-and-runs had been down 15%.
Nevertheless, in Florida over the previous 5 years, there have been 515,957 hit-and-run crashes that resulted in 1,251 fatalities. That, on common, is 103,191 hit-and-run crashes leading to 250 deaths per 12 months within the state. Florida recorded 104,895 hit-and-run crashes and 266 fatalities final 12 months.
HIT-AND-RUN CRASH DATA
| 12 months | Crashes | Severe Bodily Accidents | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 103,213 | 1,172 | 206 |
| 2019 | 105,925 | 1,112 | 217 |
| 2020 | 92,300 | 983 | 257 |
| 2021 | 109,624 | 1,185 | 305 |
| 2022 | 104,895 | 1,007 | 266 |
Fatalities in hit-and-runs, resulting from low-light circumstances, decreased in 2022 from the earlier 12 months. Complete crashes and people at daybreak, nightfall, or nighttime noticed a slight downtick.
Regardless of that discount, hit-and-run crashes nonetheless primarily happen at night time or throughout dimly lit time intervals, and account for 80% of all hit-and-run crashes. Sadly, 84% of hit-and-runs in low-light circumstances contain a fatality.
Moreover, 144 of the hit-and-run fatalities in 2022 had been pedestrians and 50 had been bicyclists, totaling 73% of hit-and-run fatalities final 12 months. Whereas total hit-and-run fatalities had been down in comparison with 2021, the proportion of bicyclists and pedestrians who died in hit-and-run crashes rose by 3%.
“Florida has been experiencing far too many hit-and-run tragedies for much too lengthy, and this wants to alter,” FLHSMV Government Director Dave Kerner mentioned.
“Drivers who flee the scene of a crash are lawbreakers and show disregard in the direction of different folks’s lives and property. Fleeing the scene of a crash will trigger extreme, lifelong penalties, and regulation enforcement – together with our State Troopers – will observe down these offenders to ensure they’re held accountable below the regulation.”
HIT-AND-RUN PENALTIES
Below Florida regulation, a driver should cease instantly on the scene of a crash on public or personal property that leads to property injury, damage, or dying:
■ If the crash entails property injury, leaving the scene is assessed as a second-degree misdemeanor, with penalties as much as 60 days in jail and a $500 fantastic.
■ Leaving the scene of a crash with accidents is a second- or third-degree felony and a driver, when convicted, can have their driver license revoked for no less than three years and may be sentenced as much as 5 years in jail and incur a $5,000 fantastic.
■ Drivers who go away the scene of a crash with a fatality face a first-degree felony with a compulsory minimal of 4 years in jail, they usually may very well be sentenced as much as 30 years and incur a $10,000 fantastic.
Of Florida’s 104,895 hit-and-run crashes final 12 months, 86,799 concerned property injury solely, comparable to a parked automotive with nobody inside, mailbox, fence, or panorama/backyard. If concerned in a crash involving property injury, you have to keep on the scene and try and find or contact the property proprietor.
When you can not find the property proprietor, the motive force accountable for the crash ought to go away contact and insurance coverage data in an identifiable location.
Within the case of property injury solely, the motive force and crash sufferer – as soon as contact has been made between them – can self-file a crash report with FLHSMV, after which don’t want regulation enforcement to file a crash report.
“Leaving the scene of a visitors crash is against the law, even when you’re scared. You should cease instantly on the scene of a crash which leads to property injury, damage, or dying,”mentioned Florida Freeway Patrol Director, Colonel Gene S. Spaulding.
“When you occur to witness a hit-and-run crash, I urge you to dial *FHP (*347) or contact your native regulation enforcement to report what you witnessed. Collectively, we are able to make a distinction in fixing hit-and-run crashes.”
Even a small tip might help remedy a hit-and-run case.
If in case you have data on a hit-and-run crash, you possibly can report it by calling *FHP (*347) or report it anonymously to Florida Crime Stoppers by calling **TIPS (**8477) or by means of the Florida Crime Stoppers smartphone telephone app, out there free within the Apple and Google Play shops.
“Leaving the scene of a crash dangers the lives of others and jeopardizes your freedom,” mentioned Michele Harris, Florida Public Affairs Director, AAA – The Auto Membership Group. “Do the proper factor. Be alert on the street and if you’re concerned in a crash, stay safely on scene and name for assist.”
For extra data on the “Keep on the Scene” marketing campaign, together with knowledge, downloadable supplies, and extra assets, please go to FLHSMV’s Hit-and-Run Consciousness webpage, www.flhsmv.gov/StayAtTheScene.
