Meredith Cohn's article about the psychology of hit-and-run drivers failed to get at the crux of the matter ("Hit-and-run drivers not uncommon, but not well understood," Feb. 6).
Drivers who flee the scene after hitting a pedestrian or cyclist are cowards who bring shame on civilized humanity. They have no place behind the wheel or in our midst.
If someone chooses to drink and drive or text and drive and that causes them to hit someone, they still need to "human up," stop and render assistance. Those who don't deserve to be locked up.
The punishment for leaving the scene of an accident should be mandatory jail time. The matter should be taken out of the hands of well-paid lawyers who will get their clients off with slimy excuses and lenient judges who will buy their nonsense.
Maybe the deterrent of mandatory jail time would turn some of these "risk takers" with "little impulse control" into more responsible citizens.
As a regular cyclist who has been cut off and nearly run off the road by just about every type of driver out there, it is obvious to me that many motorists don't realize how easily their car can hurt or kill someone.
A public information campaign and laws with real teeth are needed to stop people from being hit by motorists and ensure that when accidents do happen the responsible party stays at the scene.
Robert Gorey, Catonsville