Hit-and-run fatal crashes have soared over the past several years as more Americans bike and walk to work, according to a report released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. In 2016, more than 2,000 people died from hit-and-runs, and almost 70 percent of the victims were cyclists or pedestrians. Cellphone use could be one of the reasons behind an uptick in traffic fatalities, Jake Nelson, an AAA traffic official said. The number of cyclists commuting to work spiked 40 percent from 2006 to 2016, according to Census records. Nelson said protected bike lanes could improve safety for commuters.
