Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 100 Part 1.djvu/1163

 PUBLIC LAW 99-447—OCT. 6, 1986

100 STAT. 1125

Public Law 99-447 99th Congress Joint Resolution To designate the week of December 14, 1986, through December 20, 1986, as "National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Week".

Whereas traffic accidents cause more violent deaths in the United States than any other cause, approximately forty-four thousand in 1985; Whereas traffic accidents cause thousands of serious injuries in the United States each year; Whereas about 54 per centum of drivers killed in single vehicle collisions and 38 per centum of all drivers fatally injured in 1985 had blood alcohol concentrations of 0.10 or above; Whereas the United States Surgeon General has reported that life expectancy has risen for every age group over the past seventyfive years except for Americans fifteen to twenty-four years old, whose death rate, the leading cause of which is drunk driving, is higher now than it was twenty years ago; Whereas the total societal cost of drunk driving has been estimated at more than $26,000,000,000 per year, which does not include the human suffering that can never be measured; Whereas there are increasing reports of driving after drug use and accidents involving drivers who have used marijuana or other illegal drugs; Whereas driving after the use of therapeutic drugs, either alone or in combination with alcohol, contrary to the advice of physician, pharmacist, or manufacturer, may create a safety hazard on the roads; Whereas more research is needed on the effect of drugs either alone or in combination with alcohol, on driving ability and the incidence of traffic accidents; Whereas an incresised public awareness of the gravity of the problem of drugged driving may warn drug users to refrain from driving and may stimulate interest in increasing necessary research on the effect of drugs on driving ability and the incidence of traffic accidents; Whereas the public, particularly through the work of citizens groups, is demanding a solution to the problem of drunk and drugged driving; Whereas the Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving, appointed to heighten public awareness and stimulate the pursuit of solutions, provided vital recommendations for remedies for the problem of drunk driving; Whereas the National Commission Against Drunk Driving was established to assist State and local governments and the private sector to implement these recommendations; Whereas most States have appointed task forces to examine existing drunk driving programs and make recommendations for a renewed, comprehensive approach, and in many cases their rec-

Oct. 6, 1986 [S.J. Res. 362]

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