THE PSYCHOPATHOLOGY OF THE HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER

We can conclude from the foregoing information that any mental deviation is likely to result in fleeing from the scene of an accident. There is a definite type of malfunction which makes certain types of unstable and otherwise psychopathic people flee from the scene of an accident—they are not conscious of the necessity of salving the damage that they have done, or they are likely to go into a flight reaction when there is no need. They evaluate features of their past or present in such a way that their thresholds of social responsibility are lowered. The solution of these problems is definitely one in which the psychiatrist should take part.