Healthy Living - December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month

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December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month...

...a time when communities across the country join with the National 3D Prevention Month Coalition to conduct public awareness and enforcement campaigns to prevent impaired driving, The Coalition, a public-private sector partnership, provides a focus for communities interested in participating in National 3D Prevention Month by sponsoring national campaign activities.

Help Educate Your Community...

Impaired driving is an American tragedy. In 1999, nearly 16,000 people were killed and more than 300,000 were injured as a result of alcohol-related crashes.

Reducing alcohol-related traffic fatalities is one of NHTSA's top priorities. The national goal is to lower the death toll to no more than 11,000 by the year 2005.

In support of this national goal, law enforcement, the criminal justice system and community leaders are working in partnership to prevent impaired driving in their neighborhoods, cities, counties and states through tougher enforcement and punishment for impaired driving offenses.

Each year, nearly 1.5 million impaired drivers are taken off America's highways by law enforcement agencies because of tougher laws, sobriety checkpoint and saturation patrols.

While the number of alcohol-related fatalities during holiday periods is at an all-time low (down 34 percent since 1995), impaired driving is still a leading cause of death for people under the age of 30.

Community support for National 3D Prevention Month has grown dramatically since 1982 when President Reagan signed the first proclamation designating December 9-15 as 3D Awareness Week. Since that time, the National 3D Prevention Month Coalition has witnessed increased resolve among communities to expand existing programs and launch new initiatives.

Related article: You Drink You Drive. You Lose.