National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, 2015

Proclamation 9373 of November 30, 2015

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

No person should suffer the tragedy of losing someone
as a result of drunk, drugged, or distracted driving,
but for far too long the danger of impaired driving has
robbed people of the comfort of knowing that when they
or a loved one leaves home they will return safely.
Impaired driving puts drivers, passengers, and
pedestrians at risk, and each year it claims the lives
of thousands of Americans. During National Impaired
Driving Prevention Month, we recommit to preventing
these incidents by acting responsibly and by promoting
responsible behavior in those around us. Together, we
can enhance public safety and work to ensure a happy,
healthy life for all our people.

During the holidays--a season that includes a spike in
travel and celebrations that may include alcohol--and
throughout the year, we must remain vigilant and aware
of drivers that are distracted or under the influence
of drugs or alcohol. Drunk drivers kill more than
10,000 people annually, and about one-third of traffic
deaths in the United States involve a driver with a
blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit.
Driving under the influence of drugs, an increasingly
common occurrence, carries the same risks as drunk
driving and is just as avoidable. And driving
distracted, including while using a cell phone, can
lead to tragic outcomes that are also preventable.
Every American can play a role in reducing the
frequency of these incidents by speaking out and
warning others of the dangers associated with impaired
driving, taking away the keys of would-be drivers they
know to be intoxicated, and reminding drivers they are
riding with to stay focused on the road and to limit
distractions. It is also critical for drivers and
passengers alike to wear seatbelts regardless of how
far they are traveling.

Across our Nation, State and local law enforcement
agencies are working tirelessly to prevent and respond
to impaired driving. The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
campaign, occurring from December 16, 2015, through
January 1, 2016, seeks to raise awareness of the
dangers associated with drunk and drugged driving and
aims to prevent as many of these tragedies from
occurring as possible. At the Federal level, my
Administration remains committed to doing our part.
This year, we released an updated National Drug Control
Strategy, which aims to reduce drugged driving by
encouraging States to enact drugged driving laws and
improve efforts to identify these impaired drivers. We
also continue to support the efforts of the tireless
advocates working to stop drunk driving, and we will
keep pushing to equip law enforcement with the tools
needed to end and prevent incidents of impaired
driving. For more information, visit
www.Distraction.gov, www.NHTSA.gov/DriveSober, and
www.WhiteHouse.gov/ONDCP/DruggedDriving.

As we gather with friends and loved ones this month, I
encourage all Americans to enjoy their time together
responsibly. It is important to the health and safety
of us all to plan ahead by designating a non-drinking
driver, staying in place if impaired, and arranging for
alternative means of transportation. During National
Impaired Driving Prevention Month, let us pledge to
always drive sober and alert and to avoid distractions
behind

the wheel. Together, we can help ensure all our people
are able to enjoy the holiday spirit and make memories
with those they care about while safeguarding the well-
being of everyone on the road.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim December 2015 as
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. I urge all
Americans to make responsible decisions and take
appropriate measures to prevent impaired driving.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord two
thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and fortieth.