[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
[December 3, 1994]
[Pages 2142-2143]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's Radio Address
December 3, 1994

    Good morning. December and the holiday season it ushers in is a 
wonderful time of year. The pace slows and moods brighten as the holiday 
spirit lifts us up and brings us closer together. We have a chance to 
visit with family and friends, to celebrate, to reminisce, to think 
about the year ahead as well as the year we've just finished. We have 
the chance to reflect on our accomplishments as individuals and as a 
nation.
    In the last 2 years, our administration has made a good start. We've 
worked hard to downsize the Government and reduce the deficit and to 
create jobs and opportunities and to help middle class Americans take 
advantage of both. Unemployment is at a 4-year low. We're having the 
most rapid economic growth in 7 years. Things are moving in the right 
direction. But despite this progress, we know Americans have a lot of 
problems that we still have to work on up here in Washington, including 
stagnant incomes and crime and other difficult social challenges.
    But I think all of us know that nothing we can do will truly restore 
the American dream unless individual Americans exercise more personal 
responsibility for their own lives. That's why we must continue our work 
here to reform welfare and to help educate more Americans with better 
education and training to face the challenges of a global economy in the 
future. The most important thing any of us can do is to take that 
personal responsibility for our communities, our families, and 
ourselves.
    During the holiday season it's particularly important for all of us 
to take responsibility to keep our highways safe. Some 18,000 people 
will die this year in alcohol-related auto crashes, about one every 30 
minutes. Well over a million people will be injured, one person every 26 
seconds. These terrible incidents happen so frequently and are so 
pervasive that more than 40 percent of all Americans will be involved in 
an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. Because of the 
determined work of private organizations, like Mothers Against Drunk 
Driving, the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths has dropped about 
30 percent in the last 10 years, but it's very clear that we've got a 
long, long way to go.
    Nothing is as terrible as collisions that occur when an adult under 
the influence gets behind the steering wheel with a child in the car. 
For any adult to recklessly endanger the life of a child in this way is 
beyond disgraceful; it's an atrocity. The crime bill I signed in 
September makes it clear that we won't tolerate this kind of behavior. 
It puts tough, new penalties on the books for people who drive drunk 
with children in the car and makes it easier for States to prosecute 
anybody who drives under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
    But no matter how many laws we put on the books, no matter how many 
hours dedicated

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volunteers put into public education campaigns, these terrible deaths 
will only be prevented if each and every one of us takes the 
responsibility to do something about it ourselves. The sad truth is 
these crashes are caused by people who know better but drink and drive 
anyway, hurting themselves and often hurting others. And don't fool 
yourself, if you let a friend drive while under the influence of drugs 
or alcohol, you're their accomplice as much as if you were behind the 
wheel yourself.
    Preventing these disasters is simple. Stay away from drugs 
completely. They're illegal, and they're dangerous, and they're liable 
to kill you in or out of a car. If you're going to drink, be 
responsible. Do it in moderation and choose a designated driver who 
doesn't drink at all. And if you see a friend about to get behind the 
wheel when you know it isn't a good idea, take the keys away. It may not 
be easy at the moment, but it will be the greatest favor you may ever do 
for him or her.
    Right after this radio address, I'm going to sign an order making 
this National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. December is a 
good month for that, not only because of the increased celebrating that 
goes with the holiday season but because the holiday season helps to 
bring out the best in all of us. It makes us think a little more about 
each other. It reminds us of the obligations we all share to improve our 
communities, to keep them safe and sound for our children and our 
grandchildren.
    In that spirit, the best gift you can give anyone this year is a 
simple promise to yourself: If you're going to drink, don't get behind 
the wheel; if you see a friend about to, don't let him. Make it a New 
Year's resolution. Start to observe it today, and keep it for the rest 
of your life.
    Thanks for listening.

Note: The President spoke at 10:06 a.m. from the Oval Office at the 
White House. The National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month 
proclamation is listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.