When you hear the phrase “drunk driver,” the picture in your mind is probably a 20 or 30-something-year-old stumbling out of a bar and into the driver’s seat of a car late at night.
And what’s probably not in your mental picture is a crying baby in the backseat.
Because…well…there shouldn’t be one.
However, the reality is sadly different.
How Many Children Are Killed by Drunk Drivers Every Year?
In 2020, 229 children were killed in drunk driving accidents according to the Centers for Disease Control. In 2017, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) received 471 child endangerment calls. The organization, which is specifically dedicated to eradicating the number of children killed by drunk drivers, also released a distressing child endangerment report in 2018. According to the report, 1 out of 5 child passenger deaths are caused by drunk drivers. In 64% of these deaths, the child was being driven by the drunk driver.
It has to stop.
“Every Child Deserves a Designated Driver”
According to MADD, children riding with a drunk driver are not only at risk because of the driver’s impairment, but also because drunk drivers are much less likely to use proper safety restraints, like child safety seats or seat belts.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in fatal crashes in 2020, drunk drivers were found to have only properly restrained their children 18% of the time, while sober drivers did so 30.5% of the time.
The release went on to say that MADD considers driving drunk with an underage child in the car to be child abuse and should be treated as such.
However, individual state laws vary widely on this issue.
National Laws for Children Killed by Drunk Drivers
Currently, 48 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws that impose stricter punishments for those found guilty of driving drunk with a child in their vehicle.
But some states only consider the crime a misdemeanor, while others have made it a felony with some pretty hefty punishments.
The state of New York is helping to lead the movement toward more serious actions against violators.
In 2009, the state enacted a “DUI Child Endangerment Law” they call “Leandra’s Law” – named after 11-year-old Leandra Rosado who was killed on the Henry Hudson Parkway in New York City when her friend’s mother flipped the car they were riding in, while under the influence of alcohol.
Leandra’s Law makes it possible to charge first time offenders (.08 Blood Alcohol Content or higher and a child under 16 years-old in the car) with a class E felony that would be punishable by up to 4 years in state prison. In addition:
- The driver’s license is automatically suspended.
- The driver is required to install an ignition interlock in his or her vehicle for at least 6 months (beyond any term of imprisonment) – note, this applies to all drunk drivers, not just those with children in the vehicle.
- Violators are automatically reported to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment.
- If the drunk driving accident resulted in the child’s death, the driver could be charged with a Class B felony – punishable by up to 15 years in state prison.
- If the drunk driving crash resulted in serious physical injury to the child, the driver could be charged with a Class C felony – punishable by up to 25 years in state prison.
NC’s Laws for Children Killed by Drunk Drivers
Driving drunk with a child under the age of 16 in the car is only punishable as a misdemeanor in North Carolina, although the penalties are somewhat stricter than those for just driving “under the influence.”
The North Carolina statute carries a penalty of 7 days to 12 months in jail and a fine of no more than $2,000. However, these penalties may increase to a jail term of 30 days to 24 months and a fine of no more than $4,000 under aggravating circumstances.
While North Carolina’s statute does not reach the level of Leandra’s Law, it does contain harsher penalties than a number of states who have not enacted similar statutes.
Read More: full list of DUI Child Endangerment Laws in each state
Was Your Child Killed by a Drunk Driver?
If so, we extend our very deepest and most heartfelt sympathies – we can’t even begin to imagine what you’re going through.
No amount of money can replace your loved one. But it might help raise awareness of the issue and, no matter who was at fault, your family may be eligible for compensation.
Please give us a call for a free case evaluation. We would appreciate the opportunity to help you if we can.
Text Us
You May Also Be Interested In
Driving High: What Marijuana Car Accident Statistics Teach Us
Drowsy Driving: Danger on the Road
