Most Hit-and-Run Victims Pedestrians, Bicyclists

DENVER (May 3, 2018) – Most victims of fatal hit-and-run crashes are pedestrians or bicyclists, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. All told, hit-and-run crashes resulted in 2,049 overall deaths in 2016 -- the highest number on record and a 60 percent increase since 2009. In Colorado, hit and run fatalities have increased nearly 80 percent since 2006.

Per AAA research:

• Colorado remains the only state with a Medina Alert system, where an Amber-Alert-style message is broadcast over television, radio, e-mail, text message, and push notification if a driver is involved in a hit and run.
• Nearly 65 percent of people killed in hit-and-run crashes were pedestrians or bicyclists.
• Over the past 10 years, nearly 20 percent of all pedestrian deaths were caused by hit-and-run crashes, compared to just one percent of all driver fatalities in that same time period.
• Drivers are more likely to leave the scene of a crash in which a pedestrian or cyclist is killed than in crashes in which a vehicle occupant is killed.

"Most victims of fatal hit-and-run crashes are pedestrians or bicyclists," said AAA Colorado spokesman Skyler McKinley. "For many Coloradans, walking or bicycling is both great recreation and a sensible alternative to driving. It is incumbent on each and every one of us to stay alert, be aware of our surroundings and always stay on the scene if involved in a crash."

To decrease the chances of being involved in a crash with a pedestrian or bicyclist, drivers should:

• Be aware: Pedestrians may act unpredictably and can walk into the path of travel at any point.
• Be cautious: Look out for small children and be alert to areas where there are likely to be more pedestrians. These include school zones, playgrounds, bus stops and intersections.
• Be patient: When trying to pass a pedestrian or cyclist, give plenty of space and keep them in your line of sight.
• Be vigilant: Drivers should always yield to pedestrians, even if they walk into the road from an area other than a crosswalk.

AAA Colorado is proud to join cities, counties, government agencies, and other partners across the state to make our roads safer for all users -- no matter where or how they go. To that end, AAA Colorado is sponsoring the 2018 Denver Vision Zero Community Forum , bringing together national transportation experts and community members to discuss how to make Denver's streets and communities safer places to walk, bike, and drive.

2018 Denver Vision Zero Community Forum
Saturday, May 12, 2018
10:00 a.m. -- 2:00 p.m. MDT

PPA Events Center
2015 Decatur Street
Denver, CO 80211

Registration | Lunch is included and child care is available. Simultaneous interpretation in Spanish and Vietnamese available; American Sign Language and other languages available upon request. 

"Only by working together can we identify solutions to reduce hit-and-run fatalities," McKinley said. "That starts with encouraging motorists to stay alert and slow down and continues with conversations about what the roads of the future must look like to stem the loss of life. No organization is better suited to facilitate that conversation than AAA Colorado -- which, since it numbered Colorado's highways in 1922, has been the state's most significant mobility organization."

About AAA Colorado

More than 660,000 members strong, AAA Colorado is the state's most prominent advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 58 million members with travel, insurance, financial, and automotive-related services - as well as member-exclusive savings. For more information, visit AAA.com