Child abuse or neglect: When a child’s parent or custodian, by reason of cruelty, mental capacity, immorality or depravity, is unfit to properly care for him or her, neglects or refuses to provide necessary physical, affectional, medical, surgical or institutional care for him or her or is under such improper care or control as to endanger his or her morals or health.” – Black's Law Dictionary

In 2005, 414 children under the age of 15 years old were killed in alcohol-related crashes.  Of these, over half percent were riding with the drinking driver. (NHTSA, 2006)  Between 1997 and 2001, 1,985 child passengers died and an estimated 87,226 were injured in alcohol-related crashes.  Over this five-year period, 68 percent of the deaths and 38 percent of the injuries occurred among children who were riding with a drinking driver. (CDC, 2004)

A child in a vehicle with a drinking driver is not only at risk from the impaired driver, but also from the lack of safety restraint use (like a seat belt or child safety seat), as drinking drivers are much less likely to make sure a child is properly restrained. (Margolis, 2000) (Quinlan, 2000)

MADD believes that driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is criminal and irresponsible.  Additional sanctions should be placed on those who drive under the influence with a child in the vehicle – regular sanctions and treatment are not enough.

Studies

• Centers for Disease Control.  “Child passenger deaths involving drinking drivers--United States, 1997-2002.”  Morbidity and Mortal Weekly Report. 53(4) (2004 Feb 6): 77-9. (Click here)
• MADD.  "Every Child Deserves a Designated Driver."  2004.  (Click here)
• Margolis, Lewis, Robert Foss, and William Tolbert. “Alcohol and Motor Vehicle-Related Deaths of Children as Passengers, Pedestrians, & Bicyclists.” Journal of the American Medical Association 283 (17) (2000). (Click here)
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Traffic Safety Facts 2005: Alcohol.” DOT 810 606. Washington DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2006. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/TSF2005/AlcoholTSF05.pdf
• Quinlan, Kyran, et al.  “Characteristics of Child Passenger Deaths and Injuries Involving Drinking Drivers.”  Journal of the American Medical Association 283 (17) (2000): 2249-52. (Click here)