[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 49 (Monday, December 9, 2002)]
[Pages 2125-2126]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7632--National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, 
2002

December 3, 2002

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Drunk and drugged driving threatens the safety of millions of 
Americans. Reducing the incidence of impaired driving remains one of our 
Nation's greatest challenges. As we gather with family and friends to 
celebrate this holiday season, I urge all Americans to observe National 
Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month by making responsible choices 
that will help keep our roads safer for all.
    Drunk driving accidents take a life every 30 minutes and injure 
someone every 2 minutes. In the last 24 months, 41 percent of those 
killed in traffic accidents, which is almost 35,000 Americans, have been 
killed in alcohol-related crashes. To better protect our citizens and 
decrease the number of drunk and drugged driving traffic accidents, we 
must work together to educate our communities about the seriousness of 
this offense and we must raise awareness of its devastating 
consequences.

[[Page 2126]]

    My Administration supports efforts to save lives and prevent 
injuries resulting from impaired driving. The Department of 
Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
works with local law enforcement agencies that conduct sobriety 
checkpoints and saturation patrols; and it also supports State efforts 
to pass legislation that increases punishment for those who drink and 
drive.
    The NHTSA and its State and local partners are dedicated to 
eliminating impaired driving and stopping the associated injuries and 
fatalities. The NHTSA's national safety campaign--You Drink & Drive. You 
Lose.--aims to lower America's impaired driving fatality rate to less 
than 11,000 people per year by the year 2005. By providing its partner 
organizations with guidance on overcoming this national challenge, this 
important campaign is assisting local law enforcement agencies, 
community groups and organizations, public health professionals, and 
businesses to coordinate and address this vital issue.
    As part of the You Drink & Drive. You Lose. campaign, law 
enforcement agencies across the Nation will be out in full force from 
December 20, 2002, to January 5, 2003, to stop drunk and drugged 
driving. During the holiday season, organizations and citizens 
throughout the country also will be working to prevent this deadly 
activity by encouraging citizens to choose sober, designated drivers, 
keep impaired family members and friends off our roads, report drivers 
who are under the influence, and educate young people about safe, 
alcohol- and drug-free driving behavior. Through cooperation and 
determination, every American can do something to make a difference and 
help stop impaired drivers before they harm others.
    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 2002 as National 
Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. I call upon State and 
community leaders to join the You Drink & Drive. You Lose. national 
mobilization between December 20, 2002, and January 5, 2003. I also urge 
all Americans to work to enhance the safety of our Nation's roadways and 
protect the well-being of our drivers, passengers, and pedestrians 
during this holiday season and every day of the year.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of 
December, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
seventh.
                                                George W. Bush

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., December 5, 
2002]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on 
December 6.