PRINTER'S NO. 2843
No. 233 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY SAURMAN, WAMBACH, CLYMER, MELIO, FOX, WILSON,
HAYDEN, HECKLER, MARKOSEK, COLAFELLA, LESCOVITZ, REBER,
J. H. CLARK, McVERRY, KONDRICH, VAN HORNE, MICHLOVIC,
BATTISTO, CESSAR, FARMER, LANGTRY AND HAGARTY,
DECEMBER 5, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, DECEMBER 5, 1989
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Designating the week of December 10, 1989, through December 16,
2 1989, as "National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Week."
3 WHEREAS, Traffic accidents cause more violent deaths in the
4 United States than any other cause, approximately 44,000 in
5 1984; and
6 WHEREAS, Traffic accidents cause thousands of serious
7 injuries the United States each year; and
8 WHEREAS, More than 60% of all drivers killed in single
9 vehicle collisions and 40% of all drivers fatally injured in
10 1984 had blood alcohol concentrations above the legal limit; and
11 WHEREAS, The United States Surgeon General has reported that
12 life expectancy has risen for every age group over the past 75
13 years except for Americans 15 to 24 years of age, whose death
14 rate, the leading cause of which is drunk driving, is higher now
15 than it was 20 years ago; and
16 WHEREAS, There are increasing reports of driving after drug
1 use and accidents involving drivers who have used marijuana or
2 other illegal drugs; and
3 WHEREAS, More research is needed on the effect of drugs,
4 either alone or in combination with alcohol, on driving ability
5 and the incidence of traffic accidents; and
6 WHEREAS, An increased public awareness of the gravity of the
7 problem of drugged driving may warn drug users to refrain from
8 driving and may stimulate interest in increasing necessary
9 research on the effect of drugs on driving ability and the
10 incidence of traffic accidents; and
11 WHEREAS, The public, particularly through the work of citizen
12 groups, is demanding a solution to the problem of drunk and
13 drugged driving; and
14 WHEREAS, The Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving,
15 appointed to heighten public awareness and stimulate the pursuit
16 of solutions, provided vital recommendations for remedies for
17 the problem of drunk driving; and
18 WHEREAS, Most states have appointed task forces to examine
19 existing drunk driving programs and make recommendations for a
20 renewed, comprehensive approach, and in many cases their
21 recommendations are leading to enactment of new laws, along with
22 stricter enforcement; and
23 WHEREAS, An increase in the public awareness of the problem
24 of drunk and drugged driving may contribute to a change in
25 society's attitude toward the drunk or drugged driver and help
26 to sustain current efforts to develop comprehensive solutions at
27 the State and local levels; and
28 WHEREAS, The Christmas and New Year holiday period, with more
29 drivers on the roads and an increased number of social
30 functions, is a particularly appropriate time to focus national
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1 attention on this critical problem; and
2 WHEREAS, Designation of "National Drunk and Drugged Driving
3 Awareness Week" in past years has stimulated many activities and
4 programs by groups in both the private and public sectors aimed
5 at curbing drunk and drugged driving in the high-risk Christmas
6 and New Year holiday period and thereafter; therefore be it
7 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
8 designate the week of December 10, 1989, through December 16,
9 1989, as "National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Week,"
10 and urge the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and
11 the United States to be aware of the grave and serious dangers
12 of drunk and drugged driving and observe that week with
13 appropriate activities.
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