Imagine you’re crossing the street when everything goes dark. When you come to, you’re lying in the road, in pain, unsure what happened—except for the red taillights disappearing into the night. No driver. No help. No one calls 911.
Scenes like this are becoming increasingly common. New research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS) published on March 11 finds that 15% of all police-reported crashes in 2023 involved a driver who fled the scene, the highest percentage recorded in any recent year. The new research reveals a growing crisis on America’s roads, one that leaves injured people alone, without help, and too often without accountability.
Pedestrians and cyclists are especially vulnerable. In fact, one in four pedestrians and nearly as many cyclists killed in crashes in 2023 were hit by a driver who fled the scene. They are frequently struck in darkness during late-night or early morning hours, when visibility is low and there may be no one nearby to call for help…