Hit-and-Run Offenses in the Netherlands - (Section 30, Road Traffic Act)

• NCJ Number: 72453
• Journal: Police Science Abstracts Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: (May/June 1980) Pages: 127-140
• Author(s): H deJong
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

Selected characteristics of hit-and-run offenses and offenders in the Netherlands were investigated in this study.

Abstract

The sample consisted of all 244 solved and 392 unsolved cases recorded in 1977, in the municipalities of Apeldoorn, Arnhem, Ede, and Renkum. A control group was formed from a random sample of an equal number of traffic accidents which did not involve hit and run in the same areas. The results were tested for Chi-square significance. The characteristics under study were formulated into the following hypotheses: the pattern of hit-and-run offenses differs from that of normal traffic accidents during the winter (or dark) months, during weekends, and during evening hours; women are more frequently hit-and-run offenders than men, and drivers who stay at the scene of an accident differ from hit-and-run suspects in age distribution, social class, criminal records, insurance coverage, and level of intoxication. The findings demonstrated that although a tendency toward more accidents during the winter months exists, statistically significant differences in hit and run and normal accidents were not found. While 24.4 percent of normal accidents occurred on weekends, 34.4 percent of the hit-and-run accidents were recorded at these times. Between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., 30.3 percent of the hit-and-run offenses occurred, as compared to 10.7 percent of the normal accidents. As many women as men were hit-and-run offenders. Persons aged 41 and over were frequently hit-and-run offenders, while the majority of persons involved in normal accidents were under age 41. Insufficient information was available to determine social class differences. Criminal records were present for 37.7 percent of the hit-and-run offenders but for only 11.3 percent of the others. Insurance coverage was recorded for 86.7 percent of the hit-and-run offenders and for 98.4 percent of those who remained at the scene of the accident. Finally, 16 percent of hit-and-run offenses involved alcohol comsumption, compared to only 3 percent of the normal cases. Related studies are reviewed. Data tables and charts, footnotes, and an appendix containing additional data are included.