On 24th March, during the seminar organised by the Municipality of Verona entitled ‘Vehicular homicide one year on’, ASAPS (Association of Supporters and Friends of the Traffic Police) presented data on hit-and-runs in 2016: an interesting assessment that put into perspective the nine months in which Law No. 41 of 24 March 2016 on Vehicular Homicide and Road Injury had been in force. The facts considered in the drafting are the most serious throughout the country.

The data that emerges is clear: in 2016, the number of incidents rose 9.6% compared to the previous year, but the number of deaths fell sharply to 115 compared to 146 in 2015 (-21.2%). A total of 84.6% of all hit-and-runs – 1,009 compared with 183 – took place during the day and, once again, it was the most vulnerable road users, children and the elderly, who paid the highest price (9.5% and 8.2% respectively).

Pedestrians are still the most severely affected category, with 444 casualties: 54 deaths, accounting for 47% of total deaths (down from 2015 when there were 76 and 52% of total deaths), and 441 injuries (30.9%).

How, then, do we explain the fact that incidents have increased and deaths have decreased? There is only one indication, warns ASAPS: positive tests for alcohol and drugs amongst identified perpetrators are declining. In 2016 they totalled 15.3%, while in 2015 they had been 17.5%.

In addition, 55.3% of perpetrators were caught in 2016, down slightly from 56.2% in 2015, while 44.7% remain unknown. The percentage of perpetrators who were identified in fatal hit-and-runs was higher. In this case, it was close to 60%.