(File Photo of the AAA East Central Logo: Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A new study reveals a growing crisis on the roads in America, which leaves injured people alone, without assistance, and too often without accountability. The latest research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS) finds that 15% of all police-reported crashes in 2023 involved a driver who fled the scene, the highest percentage recorded in any recent year. Pedestrians and cyclists are especially vulnerable because, 1 in 4 pedestrians and nearly as many cyclists were killed in crashes in 2023 were hit by a driver who fled the scene. They are frequently struck in darkness during the late-night or early morning hours, which is when visibility is low and there may be no one nearby to call for help. According to a recent release from AAA East Central in Pittsburgh, here are some other notable findings from this study:

• Hit-and-run fatalities most often occur late at night or in the early morning hours, when it is dark and witnesses are less likely to be present.
• Among known hit-and-run drivers in fatal crashes, 40% did not have a valid driver’s license, and more than half were driving vehicles not registered in their name.
• The majority of identified hit-and-run drivers were young, male, and crashed within a short distance of their homes.
• Research suggests drivers are less likely to flee when they believe they will be caught, pointing to the potential impact of traffic cameras and “Yellow Alerts” that notify and seek information from the public after serious or fatal hit-and-run crashes.