The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is urging drivers to be more cautious about pedestrians and bicyclists on the road, saying the number of hit-and-run fatalities has hit a record high.

Researchers determined that 2,049 people were killed in hit-and-run crashes in 2016 – 5.5 percent of all traffic fatalities in that year, the most recent one with available data. This was the highest number on record and a 60 percent increase from 2009, when hit-and-run crashes took 1,274 lives.

The total number of hit-and-run crashes was not available for 2016, but the previous year saw 737,100 incidents – accounting for 11.7 percent of all crashes. This figure was roughly equal to pre-recession levels, but up 13 percent from 652,100 in 2009. On average, 682,000 hit-and-run crashes have occurred annually since 2006.

Hit-and-run injuries have been variable since 2006, with a high of 172,200 in that year (6.8 percent of the year's crash injuries) and a low of 125,700 in 2013 (5.8 percent of the year's crash injuries). In 2015, 138,500 people were injured in hit-and-run crashes – 5.9 percent of the year's crash injuries.

"Hit-and-run crashes in the United States are trending in the wrong direction," said David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "Our analysis shows that hit-and-run crashes are a growing traffic safety challenge and the AAA Foundation would like to work with all stakeholders to help curtail this problem."

Researchers found that hit-and-run fatalities have grown by an average of 7.2 percent each year since 2009. Those outside the vehicle are more likely to be killed in a crash, and almost 65 percent of hit-and-run fatalities in the study period were pedestrians and bicyclists. Only 1 percent of driver fatalities between 2006 and 2016 were caused by hit-and-run crashes, compared to nearly one in five pedestrian deaths in the same period.

The highest rate of hit-and-run fatalities occurred in New Mexico, Louisiana, and Florida. New Hampshire, Maine, and Minnesota had the lowest rates of fatal hit-and-run crashes.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety collected the statistics from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as well as the administration's General Estimates System.

Driver awareness

AAA says drivers can reduce their chances of hitting a pedestrian or bicyclist by being cautious and driving defensively. The organization warns that others on the road can be unpredictable and may cross into your path unexpectedly. However, drivers should be especially careful around areas where people are more likely to be by the road, including playgrounds, school zones, bus stops, and intersections.

Be patient when encountering a bicyclist or pedestrian, and give them plenty of room when passing. You may need to wait for a gap in oncoming traffic to safely pass a bicyclist with the recommended gap of three feet.

Look for pedestrians who may be walking into the road. While pedestrians should cross at marked crosswalks if they are available, drivers should yield even if a pedestrian is crossing where no crosswalk is present.

"It is every driver's legal and moral responsibility to take necessary precautions to avoid hitting a pedestrian, bicyclist or another vehicle," said Jennifer Ryan, director of state relations for AAA. "While no one likes being involved in a crash, leaving the scene will significantly increase the penalties for drivers – whether they caused the crash or not."

All states have laws making it illegal for a driver involved in a crash to leave the scene without reporting it. In Connecticut, the charge of evading responsibility was recently upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony, while the maximum prison term increased from one year to five years. Drivers who leave the scene of a crash can also be charged with other crimes and have their driver's license suspended.

In case of a crash

AAA says that anyone involved in a crash should immediately stop and call 911 to report the incident. Drivers may need to visit their police station or contact their insurance company to file a report if the police do not come to the scene.

Check to see if anyone has been injured in the crash. If so, render aid and request emergency medical responders when reporting the incident.

Make sure the crash scene is apparent to other drivers, since further collisions might occur if there is poor visibility. Reflective triangles, flares, and hazard lights can all help warn oncoming traffic of the situation. Move any vehicles involved in the crash off to the side of the road, if possible.

"By working together, we can bring awareness and identify potential solutions to reduce hit-and-run fatalities," said Yang. "We can't forget that cars can be deadly when they come into contact with pedestrians, cyclists or other cars. It is incumbent on each and every one of us to stay alert, be aware of our surroundings and always stay on the scene if involved in a crash."