Since the beginning of 2026, Russia has seen a significant increase in the number of road accidents after which the perpetrators chose to flee. As Kommersant found out after studying the State Traffic Inspectorate's reports, the number of such incidents increased by 7%.
According to the agency, over five months, 39 people died and 832 were injured to varying degrees in such accidents. Most often, drivers fled accident scenes in Moscow, Chelyabinsk and Nizhny Novgorod regions, as well as in Primorsky Krai.
Experts explain such behavior by a state of panic at the moment of the accident and a mistaken belief that due to a shortage of patrols, they will not be found. However, statistics refute these hopes: the clearance rate for such offenses consistently remains at 80%, and most fugitives are still brought to justice.
A separate criminogenic factor is the fear of punishment for drunk driving, which is punishable by a fine of 45 thousand rubles and deprivation of rights for up to two years. Leaving the scene of an accident itself carries a penalty of deprivation of rights for up to one and a half years or administrative arrest for up to 15 days.
