Why do drivers fail to stop and report an accident? Interim findings

This research briefing presents the key findings from a national postal survey of drivers with current endorsements for failing to stop or report road traffic accidents. The survey was conducted between September and December 2015 and is part of an ongoing study that aims to understand:

• Why some drivers fail to stop/report an accident (which includes offences often colloquially referred to as ‘hit-and-run’);

• The preventative strategies that could be implemented to reduce the number of offences.

A postal survey was sent to 19,071 drivers. Initial analysis of the sample frame revealed that 81% were male, around a quarter were aged 34 or under and 75% also had a current endorsement on their record for offences that could indicate poor driving behaviours.

In total, 695 ‘useable’ responses were received. Of these, 77% of respondents were male and 23% female: 27% of respondents were under the age of 34.

Key findings
The interim independent research report found that almost half (45%) of ‘hit and run’ drivers would not have left the scene of the accident if they had known that by doing so they were committing an offence.

The report also found that younger drivers are more likely to leave the scene of an accident because ‘they are uninsured, have been drinking, are scared of the consequences, or panic’.

In contrast, older drivers are more likely to do so if ‘they don’t think the accident is serious enough to report’.

Of drivers convicted of ‘hit and run’ offences, 29% did not think it was serious enough to report the accident while 21% were unaware of their responsibility to do so.

The report was compiled by the Department of Criminology at the University of Leicester on behalf of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).