[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 50 (Monday, December 15, 2003)]
[Pages 1775-1776]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7743--National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, 
2003

 December 8, 2003

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Last year, more than 17,000 people were killed and 258,000 more were 
injured in alcohol-related crashes. Such accidents cause unnecessary 
suffering, loss of life, and expense. During National Drunk and Drugged 
Driving Prevention Month, we continue our efforts to stop impaired 
driving and improve the safety of our roads during the holiday season 
and throughout the year.
    We are enhancing both the education of our citizens about the 
dangers of driving while under the influence and our methods for keeping 
impaired drivers off the road. My Administration is helping in this 
fight by supporting the enforcement of traffic programs

[[Page 1776]]

that teach Americans about the risks of impaired driving. Earlier this 
year, my Administration proposed to the Congress the Safe, Accountable, 
Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003 (SAFETEA), 
which would elevate safe transportation to a national priority and 
increase State resources for existing enforcement and education efforts. 
While Federal help and funding are important, State and local 
involvement is also critical. As part of the Department of 
Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's ``You 
Drink & Drive. You Lose.'' national campaign, from December 19, 2003, 
through January 4, 2004, more than 10,000 law enforcement agencies will 
join forces with community, health, government, and business 
organizations to demonstrate that impaired driving is unacceptable and 
unlawful.
    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 2003 as National 
Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. I encourage all Americans to 
join the ``You Drink & Drive. You Lose.'' national campaign to protect 
our citizens from impaired drivers.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of 
December, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
eighth.
                                                George W. Bush

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., December 10, 
2003]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on December 9, and it was published in the Federal Register on 
December 11.