New figures from the Metropolitan Police show that 896 cyclists were victims of hit-and-run collisions in London last year.
The total number of people injured in hit-and-run collisions went up in 2013, the fourth consecutive year of increases since 2009. While fatalities and serious injuries declined in line with the general decline in London KSIs last year, road danger reduction campaigners have cautioned it's too early to tell if that reduction is the beginning of a downturn or just a blip.
Pedestrian hit-and-runs have also increased, with 1,043 people on foot falling victim to what Green Party member of the London Assembly Jenny Jones describes as London's "lawless roads".
Jones pointed out that hit-and-run collisions are linked to other driving offences such as drunk driving, speeding, being disqualified or simply having no insurance.
Almost a fifth of collisions leading to injuries in London now involve a driver leaving the scene. The proportion has risen every year since 2009, when it was 13 percent.
Jenny Jones said: “This is a worrying trend which the Met Police need to treat as a priority. Hit and runs are associated with other illegal activities such as drunk driving, speeding, being disqualified or simply having no insurance. When a city has almost a fifth of its injuries from road collisions being linked to hit and runs, then the Mayor ought to be demanding that the police enforce the rules of the road.
"I am particularly shocked that over a thousand pedestrians could be victims of hit and runs in London last year and it isn’t regarded as a major scandal by the Mayor and senior officers in the Met Police. I hope that the Met’s Transport and Traffic teams are given the resources and political backing to get on top of our lawless roads.”
London traffic collisions
|
Year |
Fatal |
Serious |
Slight |
Total |
Total collisions |
Hit and runs as % collisions |
|
2009 |
11 |
297 |
2782 |
3090 |
23,239 |
13.30% |
|
2010 |
15 |
307 |
3085 |
3407 |
24,105 |
14.10% |
|
2011 |
14 |
306 |
3215 |
3535 |
24,443 |
14.70% |
|
2012 |
15 |
360 |
3501 |
3876 |
24,059 |
16.11% |
|
2013 |
8 |
306 |
3840 |
4154 |
23,066 |
18.00% |
15 thoughts on “Almost 900 cyclists were victims of hit-and-runs in London last year”
And the bottom line stat. How
And the bottom line stat. How many of those 4154 hit & run was the driver identified?
Finally a politician seeing
Finally a politician seeing the bigger picture. We need more money spent on policing the infrastructure we already have.
I think these stats need to
I think these stats need to be highlighted more widely. They are worrying. I’m curious how many of the incidents involved a driver being on the phone.
London also has the highest
London also has the highest percentage of uninsured drivers in the UK.
Nearly a third of motorists (29%) admitted to driving without insurance in the capital, according to a survey from MoneySupermarket ealier this year.
thereverent wrote:London also
Naaaa south Manchester init.
its wall to wall red light jumping uninsured uncle took your test drivers round here.
mrchrispy wrote:
Naaaa south
Its sad to say, but I don’t think this is just London, I think its nationwide that there is a certain lawlessness when it comes to the roads. I liken the roads when there are no police around to the way school children behave when the teacher leaves the room (i.e. chaos) the minute they hear the teacher coming they all behave impeccably. The sooner insurance companies make it a condition of insurance to install black boxes and dash cameras (with random reviews of driver behaviour) the better.
Seeing as the police won’t do anything about bad drivers, I’d like to think that the insurance companies will do something by hiking up the premiums of anyone they think is a risk. Just wish there was a way to report poor driving directly to the insurors.
The first two London cyclist
The first two London cyclist fatalities in 2013 were car hit and runs [I keep a spreadsheet]. This driver attitude is widespread. In a friendly way I point out to drivers an illegal turn and risk of fine/points and their response is often “I’ll do what I want”. Coupled with the belief the police “persecute” motorists and speeding is victimless and not really a crime, the gulf is very wide.
Its about time car drivers
Its about time car drivers were forced to take a test, have insurance, pay road tax and be registered somehow.
That would stop this sort of bad behaviour.
Some Fella wrote:Its about
Thats right. Otherwise, how will we identify and punish all the lawbreakers out there. Hmm … Hang on a minute …
You do wonder when you read
You do wonder when you read stats like this how come so many people appear to believe that it’s only when we’re on bikes that people become a problem for Joe Public, but on the other hand when we’re in cars, people are virtuous and responsible members of society!
Brooess wrote:You do wonder
Its not exactly that though, is it? They don’t believe that “when we’re in cars, people are virtuous and responsible members of society”, but the ones in cars are “just like us” (TM) and not “other”. Therefore, they’re alright.
This issue will be one of
This issue will be one of many discussed tomorrow (November 1st) at our conference
Unfortunately, the conference is now fully booked. there will be a report on http://www.rdrf.org.uk
The trend goes back much,
The trend goes back much, much further than the last five years. You can take it right back twenty five years, when the hit and run rate in the capital was about 7%.
The most disturbing aspect, is that the trend now appears to be accelerating.
Curious to learn about the
Curious to learn about the conclusions of the RDRF conference.
Personally, I believe throwing money at the problem (policing) without addressing its roots is less efficient. 3 approaches stand out: 1. A long term policy of getting more people on bikes and 2. As reported elsewhere, making insurance companies part of the solution 3. Obliging car manufacturers to (retro)fit alcohol sniffers in cars. 2.+3. could be implemented at once, but displeases the car manufacturing lobby…
However, the Lib Dems in
However, the Lib Dems in Northampton have posted some crap through my door, a newsletter type ‘progress’ sheet, and they are focusing on the ‘menacing scandal’ of pavement cycling.
They seemingly then go on to fail to recognise any link in this perverse activity by going on to report the state of local roads and huge pot holes, local concerns about increased traffic due to a new 54 home development and small supermarket and the redevelopment of a former Royal Mail sorting office into a huge school and community facility that between them will generate huge increases in traffic volume.
If only there was a cheap, easily accessible, fitness enhancing non road smashing transport alternative for these bright political sparks to get behind eh?!
Politicians = Blind leading the blind meets dumb and dumber.
I could actually cry.