Secretary Pena Asks Motorists to Keep Their Lights on Dec. 15 as Reminder of Safe and Sober Driving

Pena, Federico · 1995 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation

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Summary

This document is a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation on December 14, 1995, announcing a public safety initiative rather than reporting on academic research or experimental findings. Consequently, it does not contain a research question, methodology, or empirical results in the traditional scientific sense. Instead, it outlines a symbolic campaign and provides statistical context regarding drunk driving prevention efforts in the United States. The primary action described is Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena’s request for all motorists to drive with their headlights turned on on December 15, 1995. This event, designated as "Lights on for Life" Day, serves as a reminder of safe and sober driving and honors victims of drunk driving crashes. It marks the beginning of the "National Holiday Lifesaver Weekend" (December 15–17), during which state, municipal, and sheriff law enforcement officers are tasked with encouraging motorists to adhere to traffic safety laws, with specific emphasis on alcohol impairment, speeding, and safety belt usage. The initiative is part of the annual National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. The press release highlights specific demographic and statistical data to contextualize the urgency of the campaign. Secretary Pena notes that while drunk driving deaths have decreased by 15 percent over the previous three years, the issue remains critical, particularly during the holiday season. The administration identifies young adult males aged 21 to 34 as the highest-risk group, responsible for more alcohol-related crashes than any other demographic. Ricardo Martinez, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), provides further statistics: 16,600 people died in alcohol-related crashes in 1994, a decline from 19,887 deaths in 1991. Despite this reduction, NHTSA estimates that two in every five Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash during their lifetime. To support these efforts, the agency is releasing a study from the Harvard School of Public Health profiling chronic drink-and-drive offenders and outlining strategies to reach these high-risk drivers. The significance of this document lies in its role as a public awareness tool combining symbolic action with enforcement and education. It underscores the government’s multi-faceted approach to reducing impaired driving, which includes tough state laws, local ordinances, educational efforts, and publicity campaigns. The involvement of various stakeholders, including law enforcement leaders, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and Recording Artists Against Drunk Driving, illustrates a coordinated effort to change attitudes and behaviors regarding alcohol consumption and driving. The release serves to maintain public focus on the consequences of drunk driving during a high-risk period, leveraging both symbolic gestures and data-driven messaging to promote safety.

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• public messaging

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence