[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 4, 2001)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 62911-62912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30147]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 233 / Tuesday, December 4, 2001 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 62911]]


                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.

[[Page 62912]]

                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

[FR Doc. 01-30147
Filed 12-3-01; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P