Drunk driving kills. That’s a fact.
But did you know that over two-thirds of all car crashes involving a drunk driver that kill a child passenger are caused by the intoxicated driver of the vehicle carrying the child? Two thirds… Hundreds of children die in the U.S. each year from this cause.
Which states record the greatest number of deadly crashes involving intoxicated drivers as a percentage of the population? All states have a problem but North Dakota and New Mexico are the worst.
Investigators find that drivers who are intoxicated with drugs or alcohol and carrying a young child, not only drive dangerously but also often fail to properly buckle that child into their safety seats – turning them into an unprotected projectile in an accident.
“This study highlights the need for additional penalties for those convicted of drunk driving with a child passenger,” said Jan Withers, national president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). “Driving drunk with a child passenger is a form of child abuse, and no child should ever be put in that kind of danger.”
MADD is currently asking all states to pass legislation that makes drunk driving with a child in the car a felony offense, requiring an ignition interlock system for anyone convicted.
Critical facts for all drivers to remember…
- Don’t drink and drive. If you are planning to consume alcohol and then travel – make sure you’ve chosen a completely sober designated driver. That means sober – not buzzed.
- The current legal limit in Connecticut and throughout much of the U.S. is 0.08 BAC for older drivers. The legal limit for Connecticut drivers younger than 21 is 0.02 BAC. To reach “buzzed” driver status, which occurs at 0.01 BAC, it’s estimated that an adult male needs to consume just one half of a twelve-ounce beer. Half a beer…
- If you are the designated driver of a vehicle carrying children, make sure you make sure each child is properly buckled in before you start driving. Expecting a friend or spouse who has been drinking to do that job is a terrible mistake.
- If you host a party of children and adults – make sure no guest who has been drinking ever gets behind the wheel of a car until they are sober.
- And always set a good example for your children. If they see you drinking and then driving – ever – they are far more likely to try that stunt themselves when they become drivers.
If you are ever injured in a car accident with a driver who has been drinking, know that the Connecticut car accident lawyers at RisCassi & Davis have been assisting people just like you for almost 60 years. And we have received both state and national recognition for our work in this area. If you are ever in an auto accident of any kind and would like a free consultation with one of our Connecticut car accident attorneys, please contact us.
There is no obligation. And – there is no fee or other costs unless we are successful on your behalf.