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NHTSA Launches a New Impaired Driving Campaign

2 December 1999

NHTSA Launches a New Impaired Driving Campaign: You Drink & Drive. You Lose.

 Recent Statistics Show That Three out of 10 Americans will be Involved in An
             Alcohol-Related Traffic Crash During Their Lifetime.

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 -- Last year, 15,935 people died as a
result of impaired driving, more than 300,000 were injured and an estimated
1.5 million people were arrested. In other words, one person died every 33
minutes and one person was injured every two minutes.  Although impaired
driving-related fatalities are at an all-time low, they still account for
nearly 38 percent of all traffic-related deaths.
    To raise awareness of this persistent safety and health problem and to
prevent further impaired driving incidents, the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) will unveil a new public education campaign
called You Drink & Drive. You Lose.  The campaign launch is a featured part of
the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month kick-off media event
at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' Roof Terrace in
Washington, D.C. on December 1, 1999.
    "Fatalities associated with drunk driving are declining -- a result of
efforts by the U.S. Department of Transportation and our partners to improve
safety, which is President Clinton's and Vice President Gore's highest
transportation priority," U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater
said. "We must continue working to save lives and prevent injuries from drunk
driving, and our new public education campaign will help do that."
    The You Drink & Drive. You Lose. campaign was created to help reach the
national goal of reducing the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities to
no more than 11,000 per year by 2005. The campaign targets high-risk
populations such as 21- to 34-year-olds, high blood alcohol and repeat
offenders, and underage drinkers between the ages of 16 and 20.
    By enhancing public awareness through partnerships and coalitions, coupled
with highly active and visible law enforcement, You Drink & Drive. You Lose.
offers communities a framework to support current impaired driving and zero
tolerance laws and prevention programs.  Current campaign partners include:
the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Association of
Governors' Highway Safety Representatives, the National Sheriff's Association,
the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and Operation
C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort).