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Hit-and-Runs Stem from Car Culture
Hit-and-runs are a complex issue with many tangled factors. For starters, the US is a huge, sprawling nation with nearly 307 million inhabitants. Native-born Americans, relocated Americans, foreigners, undocumented immigrants, tourists -- all these populations reside in the US and need to get around. To do so, they drive.
The US's nearly non-existent and inept (at best) public transportation system does little to relieve the congestion on the roads everyday. More people driving to and from work -- on the road for extended periods of time, numerous times a day -- raises chances of collision. Accidents are bound to happen, but when it comes to hit-and-run, the question is: Why would anyone flee from a scene where someone is injured?
Speculated factors for fleeing the scene of a car accident are numerous but a underlying "Car Culture" seems to be at the root of the issue.
The car culture in the US subsists on the belief that driving is a natural right rather than a privilege. This is followed by many drivers, including those not properly licensed to drive. Americans are heavily dependent on their vehicles and feel entitled to the road and often overlook traffic law so casually that it makes for dangerous, accident-prone roads.
The fact that so many people are driving is an obvious initial danger. But when many of these drivers are unlicensed, have revoked licenses, or have no car insurance, and are involved in a car crash, they may flee from the scene out of fear. The high cost of auto-insurance prevents more people from having proper coverage and causes them to be less confident about being an accountable driver. Though it seems to be a situation of right vs. wrong -- staying on the scene is the right thing to do, leaving is wrong -- having more affordable car insurance could help alleviate some of the fear drivers have about being involved in accidents.
The increasing number of hit-and-run accidents exposes the necessity that everyone in a vehicle reassess the privilege and phenomenon of driving. That one can get from here-to-there so quickly and autonomously is incredible. With so many dangers on the road, everyone must be responsible for their own driving decisions and be respectful of other drivers, bicyclers, and pedestrians. Expansion of public transportation or alternative transportation (walking, biking) could help people leave their cars at home and relieve the streets of traffic. If people could reduce their sense of entitlement towards driving, they may maintain more respect for other drivers and driving laws. Changes must occur otherwise the saying that you "won't survive long without a car in the US " will change into "you won't survive long in a car in the US."
