Drunk Driving Declared a National Crisis by President George Bush Sr.

Welcome to the White House. Thank you for coming, and thank you for your warm greeting.

I'm glad we have here today two of our Administration's leaders in the fight against drunk driving and alcohol abuse: Secretary of Health and Human Services Lou Sullivan, and Secretary of Transportation, Sam Skinner.

Both are doing an outstanding job. And I'm also glad to see Senators McConnell and Glenn in the audience as well.

More importantly, I want to thank you, and all those you represent, for the dedication and hard work that's gone into one of the most amazing success stories of the 1980's -- The all-American Campaign to reduce the awful toll of drunk driving.

America's lasting love affair with the automobile is a reminder of our roots as a nation of people on the move, a reminder of our love for indiviual choice and individual freedom. It speaks of the open road and wide-open spaces, of a people whos only mimits are in the reaches of the imagination.

But individual freedom means nothing without individual responsibility.

Because for too many Americans, especially young Americans, the promise of youth has been destroyed by one of the most deadly scourges ever to strike modern times. It's as crippling as crack. As random as gang violence. And it's killing more kids than both combined.

Drunk driving is a grave crisis. Drunk driving is a continuing crisis. And I agree completely that drunk driving is a national crisis.

Drunk and drugged driving is one of America's largest health and public safety problems. You know the statistics.

Each year almost 500,000 Americans sustain injuries in alcohol-realted crashes. That's like hospitalizing the entire population of the state of Wyoming -- EVERY YEAR.

Even more staggering is the loss of life.

Each and every year, our nation's highways witness the death of almost 50,000 Americans -- an annual toll that would nearly fill the polished granite walls of the vietnam memorial. Fully half of all these deaths are alcohol-related.

And for young Americans between the ages of 16 and 35, drunk driving is simply the single leading cause of death.

But as we learned from the roll call inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial, the statistics can't ever tell the real story. Many of you gathered here know firsthand the real tragedy -- the individual tragedy -- that each of these senseless deaths inflicts.

The death of a child, any child, is one of the most awful wastes -- one of the most painful experiences imaginable.

But like so many of you, we learned there is wisdom in the pain of any loss. Barbara tells how it was after our own daughter's death that she really threw herself into volunteering, and discovered something that most of yo have known for years -- That by helping others, we also help ourselves.

This simple lesson has become one of the cornerstones of the better America you and I are working to build.

You are devoting your lives not only to serving others -- but also to saving others.

And the good you have done is nothing short of astounding.

In the past six years drunk driving deaths fell an estimated 20 percent -- even though total miles traveled rose over 25 percent. That's due to tougher state laws and enforcement, the uniform national drinking age we worked together to enact, and the rise of effective citizen groups like those we salute here today.

You helped provoke greater public awareness, a sense of responsibility, a sense of outrage.

And -- speaking not only as President, but as a Father and as a Grandfather -- You have my respect, my admiration, and my thanks.

But there is much more to be done. Our challenge for the 1990's is to make further progress, and not let up the pressure until the scourge of drunk and drugged driving is gone for good.

And while primary responsibility for highway safety must properly remain with our cities and states, I have told Sam Skinner that the fight against drunk and drugged driving is one of the key transportation goals of my administration.

His agency is redoubling its efforts in this cause. Just this year, transportation has expanded funding to train police in detecting drugged drivers.

We've provided technical and financial assistance to launch state-run sobriety check-point programs. And our justice department has gone to the Supreme Court to fight for the right to use those safety check-points.

We're also assisting state governments in upgrading their laws. Working with groups such as RID and MADD to provide training for their state and local members. And we're launching renewed public service ad campaigns to keep this issue high on the national agenda.

All these efforts are important. But in the final analysis, the success of our efforts depends not on what happens inside the White House -- But what happens inside Your House.

We must teach our children. That alcohol is a DRUG. And any irresponsible drug use is wrong. That driving drunk is a CRIME, a VIOLENT crime. And we must teach them that choices have consequences -- and that some of life's worst consequences can be avoided.

As individuals, we must not only avoid the deadly combination of drinking and driving, but also speak out and set an example for our families, friends, and co-workers.

You know what that means. Encourage the use of designated drivers. Be a responsible host in your home, or at an office partyl. Make sure alternative transportation is available. Refuse to ride with drivers who are impaired.

The holidays are a time of light -- of Christmas trees and Menorah candles, of starlight and candlelight -- lights of joy and rememberance. And there wias a special candleling ceremony just last night. It was in Orlando, at an annual vigil where families and other drunk-driving victims from 50 states gather in prayer and hope.

I know some of you were there. And you were very much in our thoughts. For in the end, my message to you today is a simple one.

Each point of light matters. Each time your message gets through can mean one life changed -- and another life saved.

Thank you for your warm greetings. God bless you all this holiday season. Godspeed you in your work. And God bless the U.S.A.

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