    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [November 28, 1995]
    [Pages 1788-1789]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995
    November 28, 1995

        Today I have signed into law S. 440, the ``National Highway System
    Designation Act of 1995.'' This Act advances my Administration's
    continued commitment to strategic investment in our Nation's
    infrastructure. It releases immediately more than $5 billion in funding
    for highway and other transportation projects. It also implements my
    proposal for a ``Zero Tolerance'' policy toward drinking and driving by
    those under age 21.
        I am disturbed, however, by the repeal of certain key safety
    measures and will work to mitigate the impact of their repeal.
        This Act is the culmination of several years' work by all levels of
    government to identify highways of national significance--routes that
    will support our Nation's needs for efficient, safe, and reliable
    transportation. The designation of the National Highway System makes
    clear that transportation infrastructure should be viewed as a single
    system, with each mode complementing the others. Manufacturers and
    shippers rely on several modes of transportation to deliver their
    products to consumers in the most efficient manner possible. The
    National Highway System unites these different modes by providing access
    to major ports, airports, rail stations, and public transit facilities.
    The National Highway System also provides 53 critical connections to
    Canada and Mexico so that goods can move across our Nation's borders
    efficiently.
        In 1992, I saw the way in which our Nation's highways reach all
    Americans. Vice President Gore and I traveled much of this great land in
    buses, and we met the American people where they live and where they
    work. Whether at a truck stop in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, or at dusk on
    U.S. Highway 51 in Sandoval, Illinois, we saw and heard what access and
    mobility mean to opportunity and economic well-being. It was during our
    first bus trip, from New York City to St. Louis, Missouri, that I made a
    commitment to rebuild America. And I'm proud to say, this National
    Highway System bill builds on all the work we have done in the last 3
    years to do just that.
        But the National Highway System is also something more. It is a
    prime example of the strategic investment of Federal resources. The
    National Highway System comprises only 4 percent of our Nation's
    highways, but these roads carry almost half of our highway traffic and
    most of our Nation's truck and tourist traffic. The improvements made to
    these roads will not only support our Nation's economic, national
    defense, and mobility needs, but directly and significantly improve the
    safety of these key national roadways. The funds released by this
    legislation and used to upgrade noninterstate highways will provide
    significant safety benefits.
        This Act also includes an essential and commonsense highway safety
    measure. Last June,

    [[Page 1789]]

    I called on the Congress to make ``Zero Tolerance'' the law of the land
    and require States to adopt a Zero Tolerance standard for drivers under
    the age of 21. It is already against the law for young people to consume
    alcohol. This national standard will reinforce these laws by making it
    effectively illegal for young people who have been drinking to drive an
    automobile.
        Many States have already enacted Zero Tolerance laws. These laws
    work--alcohol-related crashes involving teenage drivers are down as much
    as 20 percent in those States. When all States have these laws, hundreds
    more lives will be saved and thousands of injuries will be prevented. I
    commend the Congress for heeding my call and making Zero Tolerance the
    standard nationwide for drivers under the age of 21.
        S. 440 establishes innovative ways to attract new forms of
    investment in transportation and gives States greater flexibility and
    more options to utilize limited Federal transportation funds
    effectively. It also eliminates unnecessary Federal requirements such as
    those concerning highway building materials and program management. This
    will enable Federal transportation officials to focus their efforts on
    the most useful and cost-effective ways of achieving important safety
    aims and increase States' discretion to implement their highway programs
    in ways best suited to their own circumstances.
        In approving S. 440, however, I must note that some of my most
    serious concerns with this legislation have not been remedied. I am
    deeply disturbed by the repeal of both the national maximum speed limit
    law and the law encouraging States to enact motorcycle helmet use laws.
    I am also disturbed that this Act could potentially exempt large numbers
    of small- to medium-sized trucks and their drivers from critical safety
    regulations governing driver qualifications and truck maintenance.
        Without question, these laws have saved lives. The States, now given
    greater authority over issues of highway safety, must exercise this
    authority responsibly. I am, therefore, strongly committed to the
    requirement in this Act for Federal and State officials to work together
    to assess the costs and benefits of any change in speed limits. I have
    instructed the Secretary of Transportation to develop an action plan to
    promote safety consistent with my Administration's continuing commitment
    to highway safety. My Administration will redouble our efforts to
    protect those who travel on our Nation's highways.
        Although I am disappointed by the Congress' actions on these
    important safety measures, I believe that this legislation will benefit
    the Nation by designating and funding the National Highway System,
    strengthening the backbone of our transportation system, providing jobs
    and economic opportunities, funding vital transportation projects in
    every State, and making Zero Tolerance the law of the land.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    November 28, 1995.

    Note: S. 440, approved November 28, was assigned Public Law No. 104-59.