{"id":720,"date":"2019-02-01T16:02:23","date_gmt":"2019-02-01T16:02:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madd.org\/southwest-florida\/?p=720"},"modified":"2022-05-25T12:45:14","modified_gmt":"2022-05-25T12:45:14","slug":"720-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madd.org\/southwest-florida\/720-2\/","title":{"rendered":"PRESS RELEASE: STAY AT THE SCENE – IT COULD SAVE A LIFE"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Reprinted with the approval from the Florida Highway Patrol.  We know that many times, the reason a motor vehicle driver who causes a crash leaves the scene is because of impairment.  High and run awareness is so important to MADD SWFL.<\/em><\/p>\n

STAY AT THE SCENE – IT COULD SAVE A LIFE<\/strong><\/h5>\n
~ February 2019 is Hit and Run Awareness Month ~<\/em><\/h6>\n

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. <\/strong>\u2013 The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) recognizes Hit and Run Awareness Month this February by reminding all motorists to Stay at the Scene<\/em> when involved in a crash. The initiative seeks to reduce the number of hit and run crashes in Florida in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Police Chiefs Association, Crimestoppers and AAA \u2013 The Auto Club Group.<\/p>\n

[blogcontent width=’100′]\u201cIf you are involved in a crash, Stay at the Scene<\/em>. Not only is it the law, but doing so could save a life,\u201d said DHSMV Executive Director, Terry L. Rhodes. \u201cLeaving the scene of the crash will ensure you receive more serious penalties, no matter the severity of the crash. Hit and run crashes have an enormous impact to Florida\u2019s communities and our department is dedicated to solving these cases. I implore members of the public to report any information on hit and run crashes anonymously to Crime Stoppers.\u201d[\/blogcontent]<\/p>\n

In 2018 preliminarily, there were more than 90,000 hit and run crashes in Florida. Under Florida law, a driver must stop immediately at the scene of a crash on public or private property that results in injury or death. Leaving the scene of a crash is a felony and a driver, when convicted, will have their license revoked for at least three years and can be sentenced to a mandatory minimum of four years in prison.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is your responsibility under the law, and to the other parties involved, to stay at the scene of a crash,\u201d said Florida Highway Patrol Director, Colonel Gene S. Spaulding. \u201cAlthough being involved in a crash is a traumatic experience, you should remain calm, render first aid if necessary, and remove your vehicle from the roadway as soon as possible to prevent secondary crashes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although bicyclists and pedestrians are involved in a small percentage of hit and run crashes overall, pedestrians made up 59 percent and bicyclists made up 15 percent of all hit and run fatalities. Motorists are urged to drive safely and look twice for these vulnerable road users. If you are in a crash, always stay at the scene and call for aid.<\/p>\n

[blogcontent width=’100′]\u201cSafety is our number one priority, and we want everyone driving on our roadways to arrive safely at their destinations,\u201d said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin Thibault. \u201cHowever, if you do find yourself in a crash it is vital to stay at the scene. Not only is leaving against the law, remaining and waiting for first responders, and assisting other motorists, could help save a life.\u201d[\/blogcontent]<\/p>\n

[blogcontent width=’100′]\u201cLeaving the scene of a traffic crash can turn a simple accident into a crime with consequences. On behalf of our Florida Sheriffs, I fully support the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles \u2018Stay at the Scene\u2019 education initiative,\u201d said Florida Sheriffs Association President Sheriff Mark Hunter.[\/blogcontent]<\/p>\n

[blogcontent width=’100′]\u201cWhen investigating a crash, law enforcement officers want to have the best and most accurate information possible,\u201d says Chief David Perry, FPCA President.  \u201cHowever, Hit & Run crashes continue to remain high in Florida, leaving many questions unanswered and often leading to devastating consequences for those involved in the crash.  If you are involved in a crash, the FPCA reminds you to ALWAYS stop, report, and wait for first responders to arrive\u2014it\u2019s the law!  Not only will these actions allow you to speak personally with law enforcement about what happened, but you may just save lives by staying at the scene.\u201d[\/blogcontent]<\/p>\n

[blogcontent width=’100′]\u201cThe Florida Association of Crime Stoppers programs encourage anyone with information on Hit and Run traffic crashes to provide the information,\u201d said the President of the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers, Barb Bergin. \u201cYou can do it anonymously by contacting your local Crime Stoppers program. Say It Here, please report all information.\u201d[\/blogcontent]<\/p>\n

[blogcontent width=’100′]\u201cTraffic crashes are dangerous enough without involved parties leaving the scene,\u201d said Matt Nasworthy, Florida Public Affairs Director for AAA \u2013 The Auto Club Group. \u201cNever put others\u2019 lives or your freedom at risk with such a bad decision.\u201d[\/blogcontent]<\/p>\n

The most important thing a driver can do when they are involved in a crash is to Stay at the Scene<\/em> and call for help. The public is encouraged to report hit and run crashes by dialing *FHP (*347)<\/strong>. For more information on hit and runs and staying at the scene, visit: https:\/\/www.flhsmv.gov\/safety-center\/driving-safety\/hitrun\/<\/a>.<\/u><\/p>\n

Please see the department\u2019s website<\/a><\/u> for a full list of active Hit and Run cases. If the public has any information on these open cases, please contact Crimestoppers<\/a><\/u> immediately.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles<\/a><\/u><\/strong> provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education and enforcement. The Department is leading the way to a safer Florida through the efficient and professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles and operation of the Florida Highway Patrol. To learn more about DHSMV and the services offered, visit www.flhsmv.gov<\/a><\/u>, follow us on Twitter @FLHSMV<\/a><\/u> or find us on Facebook<\/a><\/u>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reprinted with the approval from the Florida Highway Patrol.  We know that many times, the reason a motor vehicle driver who causes a crash leaves the scene is because of… Continue reading PRESS RELEASE: STAY AT THE SCENE – IT COULD SAVE A LIFE<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":497,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,40,13,6,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-hit-and-run","category-law-enforcement","category-press-release","category-victim-services","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPRESS RELEASE: STAY AT THE SCENE - IT COULD SAVE A LIFE - Affiliate Southwest Florida<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/madd.org\/southwest-florida\/720-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"PRESS RELEASE: STAY AT THE SCENE - 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