Understanding the increase in fatal hit-and-run crashes: Prevalences of crashes, injuries and deaths in the United States, 2017-2023 (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety)

Previous research has shown that hit-and-run crashes are a major traffic safety problem, especially in crashes involving vulnerable road users. The objectives of the current AAA Foundation study were to provide estimates of the numbers of hit-and-run crashes, injuries and deaths in the United States in recent years, and to gain insight into the characteristics of fatal hit-and-run crashes as well as the drivers who flee from them. The current study analyzed data from a national database of all fatal crashes, as well as a representative sample of all police reported crashes regardless of severity. In addition, potential countermeasures to reduce hit-and-run crashes and gaps in knowledge are discussed.

The annual number and percentage of traffic fatalities occurring in hit-and-run crashes has been increasing since 2010, spiked in 2020 (the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic), and reached an all-time high of 2,972 fatalities (7% of all traffic fatalities) in 2022. The absolute number fell slightly, but the percentage continued to increase, in 2023.

Approximately 1 in 10 injuries of people inside of vehicles occurs in hit-and-run crashes, resulting in over 200,000 vehicle occupant injuries in 2023. While fewer in absolute number, 1 in 5 cyclist injuries and 1 in 4 pedestrian injuries in 2023 occurred in a hit-and-run crash.

When looking at people killed in hit-and-run crashes, the disproportionate impact on vulnerable road users was even more extreme: more than 70% of people killed in hit-and-run crashes were pedestrians and bicyclists. Nearly 80% of all hit-and-run fatalities occurred in darkness. The proportion of fatalities that occurred in hit-and-run crashes was highest in the largest cities, decreased with city size, and was by far the lowest in rural areas.

Learn more about the increase in fatal hit-and-run crashes here.