{"id":646,"date":"2018-10-23T14:59:27","date_gmt":"2018-10-23T14:59:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madd.org\/southwest-florida\/?p=646"},"modified":"2022-05-25T13:12:57","modified_gmt":"2022-05-25T13:12:57","slug":"drunk-driving-one-of-leading-killers-of-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madd.org\/southwest-florida\/drunk-driving-one-of-leading-killers-of-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Drunk Driving One of Leading Killers of Children"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Drunk Driving One of Leading Killers of Children<\/strong><\/h5>\n
MADD Calls for Stronger State Laws; Delivers \u2018Carlie Bears\u2019 for Child Victims <\/em><\/h6>\n

\"\"WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 22, 2018)<\/strong> \u2014 Children don\u2019t have a voice or a choice when riding with an adult, and yet those entrusted to keep children safe are all too often the same people who put them in danger by driving drunk, according to a new report<\/a> by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).<\/p>\n

[blogcontent width=’100′]\u201cDrunk driving is one of the leading causes of death among our nation\u2019s children. And more than half of children killed in drunk driving crashes are killed by their own drinking driver<\/em>,\u201d said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church. \u201cEvery child deserves a designated driver. Children are our most precious resource and they count on us for love and protection. Sadly, we are losing too many kids in drunk driving crashes.\u201d[\/blogcontent]<\/p>\n

MADD is fighting this form of child abuse on two fronts: by working to pass enhanced penalties for anyone who drives drunk with a child passenger, and by offering a small source of comfort to children who are understandably frightened and upset when their driver is stopped for suspected drunk driving. This month, at law enforcement agencies across the country, MADD is delivering \u201cCarlie Bears\u201d to give to children who are caught up in someone else\u2019s dangerous choice to drive drunk. Events are taking place at law enforcement agencies in Missouri, Florida, Texas and North Carolina.<\/p>\n

[blogcontent width=’100′]\u201cWe want to let children in these horrible situations know that someone cares. Someday, we will reach our goal of no child ever needing comfort or protection from a drunk driver,\u201d Sheehey-Church said.[\/blogcontent]<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, MADD convened a panel of 14 experts to recommend strategies to stop this inexcusable behavior that often leads to tragedy. After months of reviewing research and existing laws and hearing from other experts in the field, MADD completed its Child Endangerment Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Among the recommendations:<\/p>\n