Is it worth it to leave an accident scene?

I feel for the woman who got hit in the crosswalk in the snow and the woman, also in a crosswalk, who looked like a human pinball as she tried to scramble back to the curb.

We are always shocked at how the drivers speed away. One case in Vancouver last week even showed the driver backing up to get around the limp body of the person they just hit.

Why do people hit and run, how can they just drive away? The fact is, it’s cheaper and easier. Right now “failing to remain at the scene of an accident” is worth it. The fine is small, especially compared to the cost of an impaired driving conviction other infraction.

Why don’t we make it expensive? How about a mandatory five-year driving suspension for failing to stay when you’ve hit someone? Then triple the fine.

Instead of $1,000, make it $3,000. In addition, any damage and rehab costs

incurred by ICBC should automatically be charged back to the hit-and-run offender regardless of their insurance coverage.

These aren’t draconian steps when you compare them with the policing cost of tracking down the offenders and the pain and suffering of victims and their families.

As long as it’s worth it to leave the scene of the accident, we’ll keep seeing these deeply disturbing stories. Let’s put an end to it.

George Matthews Victoria