Before looking at hit and run in particular it is instructive to examine the road safety situation overall and the most recent figures available from the Department for Transport are for 2009. Released last September, they show a total of 222,146 casualties on British roads with 2,222 killed and 24,690 suffering serious injury. All of the figures showed a drop compared to 2008 and the number killed was 38% lower when compared with the 1994-98 average.

The most common excuses for the accidents occurring were firstly that the driver failed to look properly with four out of five collisions said to involve driver error or reaction. Loss of control was the most frequently reported contributory factor in fatal accidents, whilst exceeding the speed limit was said to be a factor in 5% of accidents.

To add to the problems on the nation's roads, there are many who are driving without suitable insurance. It is estimated that one in every 20 cars that are passed on the road is an uninsured vehicle. For those who are unlucky enough to be involved in an accident with an uninsured vehicle there is help at hand in the shape of the Motor Insurers' Bureau.