In one out of four traffic accidents in Belgium involving pedestrian injuries, the person responsible flees the scene. Cyclists also frequently fall victim to hit-and-run accidents. Although most perpetrators are caught, the phenomenon remains alarmingly widespread, the Vias Institute reported on Sunday.
Belgium has the worst record among its neighboring countries for hit-and-run crashes involving pedestrians. In one out of four Belgian traffic accidents involving a pedestrian, the person responsible flees the scene, compared with 21% in Germany and Luxembourg, 11% in France, and just 3% in the Netherlands.
In 2025, there were 4,814 injury accidents involving a hit-and-run. That is nearly 200 more than in 2024—or an increase of 8% over ten years. In relative terms, pedestrians are the largest group of victims (1,006 last year); in absolute numbers, cyclists are (1,819 last year).
Previous research has shown that perpetrators of hit-and-run incidents were often driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In addition, it is not uncommon for perpetrators to lack proper documentation (driver’s license or insurance).
Hit-and-run accidents
In 2016, 22% of hit-and-run accidents remained unsolved. Last year, that figure was 15%. This means that 85% of the perpetrators are indeed caught. The penalties for a hit-and-run are by no means insignificant, however.
In the event of an accident resulting in no injuries, the offender faces a prison sentence of 15 days to 6 months and a fine of between 2,000 and 20,000 euros.
If, on the other hand, a victim of a hit-and-run is injured or—in the worst-case scenario—dies, the perpetrator faces a prison sentence of 15 days to 3 years and/or a fine of 4,000 to 50,000 euros.
In addition, the court may decide to impose a driving ban of eight days, five years, or even for life. However, the deterrent effect proves limited because people under the influence are unaware of the severity of the penalties.
‘Figures are concerning’
The number of hit-and-run incidents continues to rise, becoming a proportionately greater road safety issue. Federal Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke is concerned about Vias’ new study results. “The new figures are concerning. […] Road safety is a shared responsibility: everyone must do their part. All for Zero!”
Vias published a comparison based on the EU’s CARE road-accident database and Belgian Statbel data for 2023, showing that the percentage of pedestrian injury crashes involving hit-and-run is 3% for the Netherlands, 11% for France, 21% for Germany, and 22% for Belgium.
Flanders on top
Embarrassingly, Belgium has the highest national rate among the countries included in the Vias comparison, one percentage point above Germany and Luxembourg, twice the French level, and 19 percentage points above the Netherlands. Flanders is even slightly higher still, at 23%.
In the meantime, the latest Belgian figure for 2025 has reached 25%, meaning that one in four injury crashes involving a pedestrian now includes a hit-and-run.
In 2024, pedestrian hit-and-run crashes, the other party was a passenger car in 45% of cases, but bicycles accounted for a surprisingly large 19%. Mopeds accounted for 11%, electric scooters for 6%, light commercial vehicles for 5%, and buses for 3%; 9% were classified as another or unknown vehicle.
