Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 98 Part 1.djvu/345

 PUBLIC LAW 98-338—JULY 3, 1984

98 STAT. 297

Public Law 98-338 98th Congress Joint Resolution To designate the week of December 9, 1984, through December 15, 1984, 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-two thousand in 1983; Whereas traffic accidents cause thousands of serious injuries in the United States each year; Whereas more than 65 per centum of drivers killed in single vehicle collisions and over 50 per centum of all drivers fatally injured have blood alcohol concentrations above the legal limit; 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 over $24,000,000,000 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 marihuana 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 increased 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, has provided vital recommendations for remedies for the problem of drunk driving; Whereas many States have appointed task forces to examine existing drunk driving programs and make recommendations for a renewed, comprehensive approach, and in many cases their recommendations are leading to enactment of new laws, along with stricter enforcement;

July 3, 1984 [g j jjes. 303]

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