The study, published in the May 2000 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, shows that nearly two out of three children killed in alcohol-related accidents are passengers riding with an impaired driver. "We know that impaired drivers kill children - these terrible tragedies are well documented," said Dr. Horton. "It's shocking to learn that, in the majority of cases, impaired drivers who are the parents or caregivers of these children are the cause of their deaths."

The research also showed that these drinking adults did not have the presence of mind to buckle-up their child passengers. Dr. Horton is encouraging local law enforcement agencies to join a nationwide campaign to enforce child restraint laws and issue citations to all drivers who fail to buckle up their children. Another aim of the "Operation ABC Mobilization: America Buckles Up Children" is to arrest drivers found to be legally impaired.

The "Operation ABC Mobilization" is being coordinated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to NHTSA Administrator Dr. Sue Bailey, "Too many children die on the nation's roadways because of irresponsible adults who put them in harm's way. Car crashes are a major killer of kids and we must use every tool we have to keep children safe by getting them buckled up and getting impaired drivers off the road."

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