    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 133, 116th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9969 of November 27, 2019

    National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, 2019

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    Every day, lives are shattered and lost on our Nation's roadways as a
    result of alcohol, drugs, and distracted driving. The statistics are
    alarming: In 2018, impaired driving took more than 10,000 lives in the
    United States--almost 30 of our fellow Americans each day. During
    National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, we reaffirm our commitment
    to preventing tragedies from impaired driving by making the responsible
    decision to drive sober. We also remember the victims of impaired
    driving, pray for the grieving families of those whose lives have been
    taken, and honor the law enforcement professionals who work to keep our
    roads safe.
    Irresponsible and impulsive choices that interfere with the ability to
    drive can irrevocably destroy hopes, dreams, and families. The influence
    of alcohol, illicit drugs, and some over-the-counter and prescription
    medications diminishes judgment, negatively impacts motor coordination,
    and decreases reaction time necessary to safely operate a motor vehicle.
    Innocent drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians are endangered
    when impaired individuals get behind the wheel. We can and must prevent
    this senseless loss of life and property.
    My Administration will continue to raise awareness nationwide of the
    importance of personal responsibility and the dangers of driving while
    impaired by alcohol or other drugs, including marijuana, opioids, and
    certain medications. Since the first day of my Administration,
    addressing substance use disorder and helping the millions of Americans
    affected by addiction find pathways to recovery have been high
    priorities. We support health professionals treating Americans
    struggling with substance use disorder and faith-based and non-profit
    organizations that address this critical issue through outreach and
    support of individuals seeking recovery. By eliminating unnecessary and
    burdensome regulations, we are supporting the creation of innovative
    technologies that help to reduce impaired driving on our roads, such as
    ride-sharing services and Advanced Vehicle Technology. Additionally, we
    are improving data collection and toxicology practices and continuing to
    provide vital resources to our Nation's law enforcement officers and
    public safety professionals, bolstering their efforts to reduce the
    number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities caused by impaired driving.
    Our Nation has lost too many lives to substance use, yet every day
    impaired drivers recklessly put others and themselves at risk. Driving
    sober is non-negotiable. This holiday season, and every day, I urge all
    Americans to choose wisely, act responsibly, drive sober, and implore
    friends and loved ones not to get behind the wheel while impaired. We
    must all commit to confronting this careless behavior, which inflicts
    unnecessary suffering and senseless loss, stealing the lives of our
    fellow Americans.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, 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 Decem

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    ber 2019 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 twenty-seventh day
    of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    fourth.
    DONALD J. TRUMP