February is ‘Hit-and-Run Awareness Month’ in Florida, and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) is reminding drivers to stay at the scene of an accident.
The state is launching a ‘Stay at the Scene’ campaign that is designed to help prevent hit-and-run crashes, reduce fatalities and injuries, and bring justice to families impacted by these crimes.
According to the FLHSMV, data analysis shows that the total number of hit-and-run crashes in Florida increased by over 17% in 2021. Fatalities from hit-and-runs were up over 18% while serious bodily injuries from hit-and-runs increased by 20%.
In 2021, nearly 170 of the hit-and-run fatalities were pedestrians and 45 were bicyclists. For comparison, 2020 saw 140 fatalities involving pedestrians and 27 involving bicyclists.
“Hit-and-run crashes and fatalities are tragically on the rise in our state, causing devastation to Florida’s families and communities,” said FLHSMV Executive Director Terry L. Rhodes.
According to the Homicide Investigation Tracking System, there were 131 hit-and-run fatalities handled by the Florida Highway Patrol in 2021, up from 124 in 2020. Out of those fatal cases, 91 are still active with varying degrees of leads and forthcoming charges.
“If you are involved in a traffic crash, it’s not only the right thing to do, but it’s your responsibility to remain at the scene and immediately contact law enforcement. With hit-and-run crashes on the rise, we need the public’s assistance in solving these cases and bringing justice to families who have lost a loved one, been injured, or had property damaged because someone left the scene in violation of Florida law,” said FHP Director Colonel Gene Spaulding.
Under Florida law, a driver must stop immediately at the scene of a crash on public or private property that results in property damage, injury, or death. Leaving the scene of a crash is a felony and a driver, when convicted, will have their license revoked for at least three years and can be sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of four years in prison.
For more information on the ‘Stay at the Scene’ campaign, visit the FLHSMV Hit-and-Run Awareness webpage.