National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, 2012

Proclamation 8911 of November 30, 2012

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, 2012

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

As Americans gather with friends and family to share in
the holiday season, National Impaired Driving
Prevention Month reminds us of the importance of
celebrating safely. Every year, accidents involving
drunk, drugged, or distracted driving claim thousands
of lives, leaving families to face the heartbreak of
losing a loved one. We stand with all those who have
known the tragic consequences of drugged or drunk
driving, and we rededicate ourselves to preventing it
this December and throughout the year.

Alcohol and drugs present serious risks to all drivers.
It is well known that drugs, including some
prescription medications, can impair the skills
necessary for safe and responsible driving.
Distractions like using mobile phones and other
electronics behind the wheel also make our roads more
hazardous. To reduce the prevalence of impaired
driving, my Administration is working to raise public
awareness, improve impaired driving screening
procedures, and ensure law enforcement officers get the
training they need. We are also striving to stop
substance abuse before it starts by supporting local
prevention programs and providing youth with the facts
about alcohol and drug use.

Families play an essential part in stopping impaired
driving. By talking about the risks and setting clear
expectations, parents and other caregivers can help
their children stay safe, sober, and focused on the
road. Educators, health care providers, and community
leaders can join in that important work by promoting
responsible decisionmaking and encouraging young people
to live free of drugs and alcohol.

This month, we recommit to keeping our streets safe,
our families healthy, and our communities strong. To
learn more about impaired driving and how all of us can
work to prevent it, visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/ONDCP and
www.NHTSA.gov/Impaired.

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 2012 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 twelve, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.