NEW DELHI: In a tragic incident on Saturday, Rajesh, a hardworking gardener and the main provider for his family, was fatally hit by a speeding car while cycling to work in Bhogal. This not only shattered his own life but also the hopes and aspirations of his wife and two children. Rajesh's premature death is part of a rising trend where drivers of unidentified vehicles often escape accountability despite the registration of FIRs. In such cases, if the driver is eventually caught, they usually obtain immediate bail, leading to prolonged legal processes. Shockingly, hit-and-run incidents or "accidents by unknown vehicles" account for over 40% of crashes in the city. Many drivers believe they can evade consequences with legal help later on, while some flee due to fear of public retaliation. A senior police officer emphasized that individuals flee accident scenes out of fear of physical harm, financial exploitation, or lengthy legal battles. Addressing this fear requires measures beyond the Good Samaritan law's protections. Efforts to reduce hit-and-run incidents have shown progress, with collaborative initiatives between traffic and local police resulting in a decrease in fatalities caused by unknown vehicles. Despite a total of 518 deaths in 511 fatal accidents by mid-May this year, the numbers are lower compared to the previous year's toll of 552 fatalities in 544 collisions.During the period of January to May 2023, the top 10 roads in the national capital with the highest occurrence of fatal accidents include Ring Road, National Highway (NH) 24, NH 8, Rohtak Road, GTK Road, and Mathura Road. In the past, hit-and-run cases were prosecuted under IPC Section 304A, punishable by a maximum two-year sentence. The new Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita Section 106(2) has raised the maximum imprisonment to 10 years. Yet, lack of awareness may be hindering the effectiveness of this deterrent.