More and more road accidents in which someone was injured or killed involve the perpetrators fleeing the scene in Belgium. Cyclists and pedestrians are most likely to be the victims of hit-and-runs.
Around one in eight accidents in which someone was injured or killed involved a hit-and-run offence in 2023. Almost 4,800 hit-and-runs resulting in injury were recorded. This figure amounts to 92 hit-and-run accidents every week, and the number has increased by 9% in Belgium since 2014, road traffic institute Vias reported.
"Not only in absolute numbers but also proportionally, the number of hit-and-run crimes is increasing," Vias spokesperson Stef Willems noted. "In 2023, 13% of all injury accidents were one in which the offender committed a hit-and-run compared to 10.6% in 2014."
Fleeing crime accidents are proportionally about as common during the day (13% of all injury accidents) as at night (16%). In absolute numbers, however, there are even more accidents during the day than at night.
'Immense anger'
These crimes affected 5,285 victims last year – down from 5,316 in 2022. However, compared to a decade ago, this represents an 8% increase in victims.
In many cases, cyclists and pedestrians are the victims. In 2023, 1,716 people who sustained injuries in a hit-and-run offence were travelling by bicycle, while 940 were pedestrians; combined, they make up just over half the total number of victims. Overall, more than one in five of all pedestrians injured in road traffic accidents are victims of a hit-and-run offence.
One victim, Lotte, lost her partner ten years ago after both were hit by a car while cycling, leaving her scarred both physically and mentally. "If the driver had stayed with us after hitting us, I wouldn't have felt with this immense anger which I'll be left with for the rest of my life."
However, perpetrators are also increasingly being caught. Police figures dating back to 2022 showed that 13.7% of hit-and-run accidents remained unsolved, down from a quarter in 2014. "The chance of being caught has certainly increased in recent years because there are more cameras in public spaces, making it easier to track down offenders," Willems explained. While there are more cameras in urban areas, hit-and-runs more commonly occur in cities (17.5%) than rural areas (7.4%).
Related News
- Belgians among best in Europe at combating driving fatigue
- Driving for zero deaths: Can Belgium achieve its ambitious road safety targets?
When caught, such crimes do not go unpunished. In an accident without injuries, the offender risks a prison sentence of 15 days to six months and a fine of between €1,600 and €16,000. If a victim is injured or dies, the perpetrator risks a prison sentence of 15 days to four years and/or a fine of €3,200 to €40,000. A lifetime driving ban can also be imposed.
"Fleeing after an accident, even when in shock, is never a good solution," Willems concluded. "The penalties have been sharply increased in recent years (up to even a possible four-year jail term). Above all, it is your moral duty to help to someone in need."
