Hit-and-run accidents in Belgium up 8% in a decade, pedestrians worst affected

A worrying trend on Belgian roads

Belgium's traffic safety institute Vias released figures on Sunday showing that hit-and-run accidents have become more frequent over the past decade. In 2025, 4,814 injury accidents involved a driver who fled the scene, nearly 200 more than in 2024. The total number of victims reached 5,297: 20 people died, 200 were seriously injured and 5,077 suffered minor injuries. Vias described the numbers as concerning, especially because the share of accidents followed by a hit-and-run has grown for the most vulnerable road users.

Pedestrians increasingly at risk

Pedestrians are now the group most affected in relative terms. Two years ago, about one in five injury accidents involving a pedestrian was followed by a hit-and-run. That ratio has climbed to one in four. Last year, 1,006 pedestrians were victims of a driver who did not stop. The institute noted that the proportional increase is particularly stark for those on foot, who have no protection against a fleeing vehicle.

Cyclists and other vulnerable users

In absolute numbers, cyclists are the largest group of hit-and-run victims. In 2025, 1,819 cyclists were hit by a driver who then fled, accounting for 15% of all cyclist injury accidents. Users of electric scooters and mopeds also face a heightened risk: 15% of e-scooter accidents and 12% of moped accidents involved a hit-and-run. The data underline that drivers who leave the scene disproportionately harm those who are most exposed on the road.

A decade-long rise

Looking back ten years, the number of hit-and-run injury accidents has grown from 4,467 in 2014 to 4,814 in 2025, an increase of 8%. The upward trend continued in the most recent year, with nearly 200 additional cases compared to 2024. The steady rise suggests that the problem is not abating, even as overall road safety measures evolve.

Who flees and why

More than eight out of ten perpetrators are eventually identified, according to Vias. Earlier research indicates that hit-and-run drivers are often under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or lack valid documents such as a driving licence or insurance. The institute's findings point to a persistent pattern of drivers trying to evade responsibility after causing harm, particularly when they are already in breach of traffic laws.