According to a recent report from Action Vision Zero, hit-and-run collisions continue to be a major problem in London. Some key statistics from the report:
- The number of people killed in hit-and-runs rose to 16 last year, with over 800 seriously injured.
- Hit-and-run deaths and serious injuries were up 10% compared to the previous year.
- Pedestrians account for most of those killed in hit-and-runs.
- Pedestrians and cyclists regularly account for 70% of hit-and-run deaths and serious injuries.
This is an appalling situation. In my view, the key reason drivers flee the scene is that the punishment does not fit the crime. Currently, the maximum sentence for failing to stop at the scene of a crash is just 6 months.
I propose that any driver who does not stop at the scene of a collision where there is someone injured should automatically be charged with manslaughter in case of death or grievous bodily harm in the case of serious injury. In other words, the penalty for not stopping should be a dramatic increase, at minimum a trebling of the potential sentence. This may deter more drivers from fleeing and bring some justice to victims. Stronger punishment is needed to combat the ongoing scourge of hit-and-run collisions.
Elaine Gorgon, pictured above, poignantly tells the grief that these act of piracy and callousness cause:
“My sister, Gina Johnson, was 44-years-old when she was killed. She was on her way to work when a speeding car crossed over onto her side of the road. It crashed into her car, spinning it around and slamming it into a wall.
The driver got out of his car unharmed and ran off. He didn’t call for help. He just ran off back to his girlfriend’s house. Whilst he was running away, Gina’s car caught fire and went up in flames.
We never got to see her again. We never got to hold her hand or speak to her again. The agony of her loss cannot be explained in words. Gina was a daughter, wife, sister, aunt and friend who impacted our family’s life. There is still an empty space that only she can fill. Our lives have never been the same since the day she was taken. The pain continues. There’s nothing that could ever take that pain away or make it better.”
Vision Zero London 