Rise in hit and run convictions extremely worrying - Carmichael

10.42.46pm GMT Thu 7th Dec 2006

Research from the Liberal Democrats shows there has been a 10% rise in convictions of hit and run drivers - those who fail to stop after an accident - since 2000. The research also reveals:

• There are 16 hit and run drivers caught every day - just under 6000 a year in total;

• Greater Manchester is the area with the highest number of "hit and run" convictions, with nearly 500 per year.

• The biggest increases have been in Staffordshire (+251%) and Devon and Cornwall (+193%), with the biggest declines in Avon and Somerset (-41%) and Gwent (-40%)

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Alistair Carmichael MP - who uncovered the figures in a Parliamentary question - said "Any traffic accident is traumatic, but where the driver fails to stop and help it can be considerably more so. I find it extremely worrying that the number of convictions has risen over the past few years.

"Given that many more incidents go unreported, and the number of road traffic police officers has fallen over the period examined, these figures may only be the tip of the iceberg."