MADD believes Every Child deserves a Designated Driver

A new report released by The American Academy of Pediatrics finds the problem of alcohol-impaired driving remains a threat to the safety of child passengers. This descriptive analysis of 2000 – 2010 Fatality Analysis Reporting System data found that 2,344 children under the age of 15 were killed in crashes involving at least one alcohol-impaired driver, of which sixty-five percent were riding with an impaired driver. The study proves that much more needs to be done in order to protect our children. Today, 46 states and the District of Columbia have enacted child endangerment laws or statutes that allow for additional penalties for a drunk driving conviction with a child passenger in the vehicle. These laws vary widely in severity and definition of a child passenger. “Drinking and driving never mix, and it can be especially tragic when there is a child in the car,” said Jan Withers MADD National President. “Child endangerment has reached a crisis level in our nation. MADD receives more than 17,000 phone calls related to child endangerment.  Children deserve a safe ride, especially by those entrusted to keep them safe.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2012, a total of 1,168 children age 14 and younger were killed in motor vehicle crashes, of which 239 occurred in alcohol-impaired crashes. Out of those 239 deaths, 124 were occupants of a vehicle with a driver who had a blood alcohol concentration level of .08% or higher. “Exposing a child to unreasonable risk or placing a child in imminent risk of death or serious injury is a punishable offense.  These statistics are alarming and represent the need for legislation to protect our children,” said Withers.