National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, 2001

Proclamation 7509 of November 29, 2001

National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention
Month, 2001

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Each December we turn our attention to the problem of
drunk driving by observing National Drunk and Drugged
Driving Prevention Month. Though the holidays bring joy
in celebrations with family and friends, they also
bring a tragic increase in the incidence of impaired
driving. This season, I ask each American to avoid
driving while they are under the influence of alcohol
or drugs, to help stop others from driving in an
impaired condition, and to increase community awareness
about these issues.

Despite many efforts by States, communities, and
citizen groups to stop drunk and drugged driving, many
Americans mistakenly continue to view impaired driving
as acceptable conduct. After years of gradual
improvement, fatalities in alcohol-related crashes rose
by 4 percent from 1999 to 2000. The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration estimates that last year
alcohol was involved in 40 percent of fatal crashes and
in 8 percent of all crashes.

Every person should reaffirm his or her personal
responsibility to drive free of the influence of
alcohol or drugs and to prevent others from driving
under the influence of them. We must promote practices
such as designating a sober driver, stopping impaired
family members and friends from getting behind the
wheel, reporting impaired drivers to law enforcement
officials, and teaching our young people safe, alcohol-
and drug-free driving behavior.

We should also promote coordinated public policies and
citizen campaigns against drunk and drugged driving in
our communities. One example is the Department of
Transportation's You Drink & Drive, You Lose campaign.
This national coalition of community and law
enforcement organizations will increase public
awareness of the hazards of impaired driving. Their
message warns of the criminal penalties for impaired
driving, including imprisonment and the loss of
license, vehicle, time from work, and money in fines
and court costs.

As we celebrate the joyous holiday season, we can help
save lives by preventing impaired driving. In order to
ensure the safety of our roads for all travelers, we
must continue to fight drunk and drugged driving
throughout the year.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim December 2001 as National
Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. I call upon
State and community leaders to join the National
Holiday Lifesavers Mobilization, sponsored by the You
Drink & Drive, You Lose campaign, on December 21-23,
2001. I also urge all Americans to remember the hazards
of impaired driving and to become involved in fighting
this dangerous problem.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord
two thousand one, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

(Presidential Sig.)B