PROCLAMATION 5918—DEC. 5, 1988 103 STAT. 2667 upon the people of the United States to observe this week with appro- priate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty- eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirteenth. '" RONALD REAGAN Proclamation 5918 of December 5, 1988 National Dniiik and Drugged Driving Awareness Week, 1988 By the President of the United States of America \i. ,^ A Proclamation .; The holiday season is a most fitting time to reemphasize that driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is dangerous and irre- sponsible behavior that no one should engage in, tolerate, or permit. Again this year, citizens across our Nation are volunteering their time and talents to take part in a week of observance to focus public atten- tion on eliminating drunk and drugged driving. Public officials at all levels have issued proclamations, sponsored legislation, and appointed task forces; law enJForcement agencies have increased enforcement ef- forts; public and private organizations have held safety campaigns; and citizens have sponsored programs to proAade rides home from holiday parties. Actions like these bring us closer to the day when drunk and drugged drivers will no longer threaten our lives and our families. We can take heart from the results of the comprehensive year-roimd activities to stop drunk driving. In 1987, the proportion of motor vehicle fatalities in which at least one driver or pedestrian was legally intoxi- cated was 40 percent. That figure is down from 46.3 percent in 1982. Another significant achievement was among intoxicated teenage driv- ers, whose involvement in fatal crashes declined to 18.7 percent in 1987, down from 21 percent in 1986 and 28.4 percent in 1982. These notable gains give us hope and even more reason to redouble our efforts to stop drunk and drugged driving. This is no time for com- placency. We must also realize that combining drugs and alcohol adds to the risk. Studies of drivers involved in accidents reveal that many use drugs—and that certain drugs, either alone or in combination with alco- hol, contribute to crashes. We must all be aware of the safety risks of driving after taking drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs that carry a warning label against driving. We can all help improve safety on our roads and highways by refusing to tolerate drunk and drugged driving; by always wearing safety belts, even for short drives; and by insisting upon prompt and effective action against alcohol-and drug-impaired drivers. .,
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