For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 9, 2003
National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, 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 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
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