A joint resolution to designate the week of December 9, 1984, through December 15, 1984, as "National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Week".
PL 98-338 (S.J.Res.303), enacted 07/03/1984

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 
July 3, 1984 
Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Week". 
[g j jjes. 303] 
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 seventy-
five 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 inci-
dence of traffic accidents; 
Whereas an increased public awareness of the gravity of the prob-
lem of drugged driving may warn drug users to refrain from 
driving and may stimulate interest in increasing necessary re-
search 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 solu-
tions, has provided vital recommendations for remedies for the 
problem of drunk driving; 
Whereas many States have appointed task forces to examine exist-
ing drunk driving programs and make recommendations for a 
renewed, comprehensive approach, and in many cases their rec-
ommendations are leading to enactment of new laws, along with 
stricter enforcement; 
98 STAT. 298 
PUBLIC LAW 98-338—JULY 3, 1984 
Whereas the best defense against the drunk or drugged driver is the 
use of safety belts and greater safety belt usage would increase the 
number of survivors of traffic accidents; 
Whereas an increase in the public awareness of the problem of 
drunk and drugged driving may contribute to a change in society's 
attitute toward the drunk or drugged driver and help to sustain 
current efforts to develop comprehensive solutions at the State 
and local levels; 
Whereas the Christmeis and New Year holiday period, with more 
drivers on the roads and an increased number of social functions, 
is a particularly appropriate time to focus national attention on 
this critical problem; 
Whereas designation of National Drunk and Drugged Driving 
Awareness Week in 1982 and 1983 stimulated many activities and 
programs by groups in both the private and public sectors aimed 
at curbing drunk and drugged driving in the high-risk Christmas 
and New Year holiday period and thereafter; 
Whereas over the last three years the number of traffic fatalities 
over each of the three-day New Year holidays has decreased from 
three hundred and thirty-eight deaths in 1981, to two hundred and 
eighty-two deaths in 1982, to two hundred and seventy-four deaths 
in 1983, the lowest number since 1949; and 
Whereas the activities and programs during National Drunk and 
Drugged Driving Awareness Week in 1982 and 1983 heightened 
the awareness of the American public to the danger of drunk and 
drugged driving and contributed to the decrease in traffic fatali-
ties: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of 
America in Congress assembled, That the week of December 
9, 1984, through December 15, 1984, is designated as "National 
Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Week" and the President is 
authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the 
people of the United States to observe that week with appropriate 
activities. 
Approved July 3, 1984. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 303: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 130 (1984): 
June 8, considered and passed Senate. 
June 26, considered and passed House.