By Adam Morris
Hit and run cases in Scotland are on course to more than treble this year, new figures have revealed.
Police are recording significantly more incidents across the country where motorists fail to stop after a collision.
For the first six months of this year there have already been 4,726 cases reported by officers.
That compares to 2,726 for the whole of 2025, which in itself was a notable increase on previous years.
A number of factors have been cited as possible causes, from soaring insurance costs to the increased willingness of drivers to try evading the law.
Brian Jones, vice chair of the Scottish Police Federation, said: “There could be a number of factors, from cost – are people less likely to be insured – to the quality of education for young people.
“Do they know they’re supposed to stop when there’s been a collision?
“But these figures are symptom of a wider problem. Road policing in Scotland is virtually non-existent and the roads are becoming lawless as a result.
“The consequences are utterly tragic, and we just don’t have the resources to properly police the roads. They’re beginning to wake up to this in England and Wales and we need to do the same in Scotland.”
Concerns have been raised over a number of years about the reduction in dedicated road traffic officers north of the border.
“Drivers have a clear legal and moral responsibility to stop”
Latest statistics indicate the headcount has fallen from 770 to around 500.
“The rising number of hit and runs in Scotland over the past few years is a huge concern,” said Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and communications at road safety charity IAM RoadSmart.
“Not stopping after being involved in a serious collision is a criminal offence and could result in imprisonment.
“Where someone else might be injured, it could also be a matter of life and death.
“Drivers have a clear legal and moral responsibility to stop, ensure anyone injured can get help, and provide their details at the scene.”
The latest data was obtained by 1919 through freedom of information legislation. It showed big increases in hit and runs all across the country.
Up to the end of June, 825 cases had been recorded in Glasgow, 564 in Lanarkshire and 563 in Glasgow.
If the current trend continues for the rest of 2026, there will have been almost 9,500 cases – the equivalent of more than 25 a day.
A hit and run incident can vary in seriousness, ranging from a driver fleeing the scene of a fatality to a simple shunt where one party departs without disclosing their details.
Police Scotland was contacted for comment.
Recorded incidents classed as RTC – hit and run in Scotland
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,652 |
| 2024 | 2,114 |
| 2025 | 2,726 |
| 2026 (to end of June) | 4,726 |
