[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