In a press release recently by the FDHS the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there has been an increase in fatal hit and run auto accidents within the past two years in Florida.
In an attempt to battle this increase, the Florida Sheriff’s Association is partnering with the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Chief’s of Police Association with the intention of reducing the amount of these hit and run accidents. One of their methods is to educate motorist about their responsibilities if they become involved in an accident as well as what the consequences are of leaving the scene of an accident.
Colonel David Brierton, who is the Director of the Florida Highway Patrol is quoted as saying, “Hit and run crashes are a growing problem in Florida.” Considering the fact that in 2012 there were approximately 70,000 hit and run accidents in Florida, Brierton is in hopes that by educating people together with the partnership of law enforcement agencies, will help the different agencies meet safety goals in Florida. In order to remind motorist of what they need to do if involved in an auto accident, the FDHS created a mnemonic device and recommends drivers to remember C.R.A.S.H.:
Call law enforcement.
Remain calm.
Attain vehicle, witness and driver information.
Sketch the scene, showing vehicle crash locations.
Help the injured.
In a press release, the FDHS reminded the public the laws in Florida that require motorist who are involved in traffic accidents that they must stay at the scene of the accident, offer reasonable assistance to injured people, and exchange insurance information with the other motorist involved. Motorist failing to comply with any of the requirements can be convicted of a crime. If a motorist leave the scene of an accident where property damage is involved, it is considered a second degree misdemeanor and punishable by 60 days in jail and a fine of $500 dollars.
If a motorist leaves the scene of an accident where there are injuries involved, it is considered a third degree felony and is punishable by five years in prison and a fine of $5,000 dollars. If a motorist leaves the scene of an accident where a person has died, it is considered a first degree felony and is punishable by 30 years in prison and a $10,000 dollar fine. In 2012 Florida hit and run accidents totaled 69,994. The Florida hit and run accidents that happened in 2011 and 2012 increased from 162 to 168 and of those, there were three out of five that happened in 2012 that were pedestrians. According these figures, apparently, Florida’s problems with hit and run accidents get worse every year.
