One in eight Belgian drivers flees scene of an accident

Every week in Belgium, 92 serious road accidents take place where the person responsible flees the scene, according to new figures from Belgium’s road safety institute Vias.

The institute said that in the 10 years from 2014 to 2023, hit-and-run offences have increased by 9% and that people arrested have faced heavy penalties.

Vias said that 19 people lost their lives in these accidents over the past decade and 5,266 were injured.

Out of the 4,368 hit-and-run accidents on average each year, 1,716 victims were on a bicycle and 940 on foot. Cyclists and pedestrians therefore account for almost half of the victims of this act that occurs just as frequently by day as at night.

As a whole, 22% of pedestrians hurt in a traffic accident are hit-and-run victims, Vias said.

On the positive side, hit-and-run offenders are caught more and more often. In 2014, 24.5% of perpetrators were not found compared with 13.7% in 2022. The increase in cameras in public spaces, particularly in urban areas, is making it easier to track down offenders.

If a hit-and-run victim is injured or dies, the penalties are severe. The offender risks a prison sentence of up to four years and/or a fine of up to €40,000.

If there are no injuries, the perpetrator risks prison from a fortnight to six months and a fine from €1,600 to €15,000. In both cases, the person causing the accident can have his or her licence taken away permanently or for a set period such as two years.

Vias said that all road accidents cause a short-term shock as well as significant trauma.

The causes or factors leading to accidents are in general quickly identified. But, highlighting a witness statement from a hit-and-run victim, the institute noted that this is often not the case in hit-and-run accidents.

Knowing why someone has fled the scene of a road crime exacerbates the situation mentally and emotionally for victims, Vias said, as they do not get an answer to what has happened.