Unless someone is injured or if an insurance company gets involved it seems that there is absolutely no point in stopping to report an accident.
I’ve seen a related thread on RA a while ago and now we have experienced something similar. We were hit by another car and the driver stopped, looked at our car and apparently mouthed an apology of sorts. Because we thought he was getting out to provide his details, we (and the witnesses) only managed to get his registration number and the color of the car when he then suddenly drove off.
The damage to our car would be less than the cost of the insurance excess and future increased premiums (eg if we got the license number wrong or the driver disputed liability) so it’s not worth claiming. We FOI’d a copy of the other party’s police report but the police have now advised that there isn’t one and they don’t have the resources to contact the driver and ask why they haven’t reported the accident.
Apparently, the police only pursue hit and runs if someone has been injured or if an insurance company gets involved. As well, they don’t keep a record on their database of vehicles in other accidents (eg to identify someone whose driving skills might be failing or someone who makes a habit of hitting other vehicles and driving off). Even if the police were aware of someone’s poor driving skills apparently there is nothing that they can do to have the person’s license reviewed (although they could raise charges if they had the resources). The Officer that spoke to us admitted that they would only take action when someone was killed or injured.
I remember seeing RA discussion about a site called something like “rate my plate” which at least would keep a running public record of these drivers but I can’t remember the reason it was pulled down – presumably the same privacy reasons that RA can’t show images of number plates or perhaps to avoid liability from any vigilante behaviour.
Anyway the whole thing sucks! End rant.