Hit and runs reported to Police Scotland have almost trebled in four years, according to figures obtained under Freedom of Information. In the first six months of this year, there were 4,726 hit and runs reported, compared to 2,726 for the whole of 2025, 2,114 across 2024, and 1,652 in 2023.
Rise in daily incidents
Hit and run cases are currently being reported at the rate of 25 a day, compared to four a day in 2023. They can range from a motorist fleeing the scene of a serious accident to a simple shunt where the driver doesn't stop, pass on his details or report the accident to the police.
Last month, two police officers were both seriously injured in a hit and run in Larkhall in South Lanarkshire, which is being treated as attempted murder. The men, aged 41 and 43, had been carrying out enquiries at a property in the town when a white Renault van was deliberately driven at them. Both needed hospital treatment. Footage later emerged of one officer lying motionless on his side with a member of the public attending to him, while his colleague tries to recover on his knees.
Last week, a cyclist suffered "life threatening" injuries and was taken to hospital in Edinburgh after he was the victim of a hit and run. The 36-year-old was knocked down on the A72 near Biggar by what is believed to be a Mercedes van that left the scene before police arrived.
Reasons cited for surge
Various reasons are being cited for the explosion in cases, including a rise in the cost of living meaning motorists are driving cars with no insurance, vehicle tax, or MOT. There has also been a fall in the number of traffic cops from 770 to 500.
Brian Jones, vice chair of the Scottish Police Federation and a former traffic officer, told the Daily Record that the rise in hit and run figures was a major concern. He added: "It's a perfect storm here. You have a cost of living crisis, a lack of visible deterrents on the road network with the reduction in road policing officers and lack of education with newly qualified drivers. Do young people even know that there is a legal requirement to stop at the scene of a collision? You have to wonder if that is being taught when they do their driving tests. Insurance premiums are going up and there are a lot of vehicles on the road which are now uninsured."
Mr Jones added: "The age of vehicles on the road has increased quite significantly over the years and that means people might be saving on both the cost of insurance and MOTs. That also ties in with the lack of enforcement. Hopefully we can get more funding for road traffic police officers, at present it is pretty light."
AA president's response
AA President Edmund King said: "It is astonishing and incredibly worrying that the number of hit and runs in Scotland has trebled in just four years. Every driver must stop their vehicle immediately, regardless of how minor the damage looks or who is at fault, whenever a collision involves damage or injury. The increase may be linked to more drivers driving outside the law without insurance, tax nor MOT, who don't want to bear the consequences of their actions. The decrease in dedicated traffic police might also make some drivers believe that they are more likely to get away with leaving the scene of a crash if there are fewer police patrols on the roads. The AA would encourage the police to take the strictest action against these 'hit and run' drivers to send a message to others that they are not likely to get away with it."
Up to the end of June, 825 hit and run cases had been recorded in Glasgow, 564 in Lanarkshire, and 563 in Edinburgh. Tayside had 387 cases, and the north east of Scotland 380. All the figures, obtained by the 1919 magazine under Freedom of Information, show big increases from 2023.
