My fellow Americans

Ive always thought New Year's Day was an especially American tradition, full of the optimism and hope we re famous for in our daly lives—an energy and confidence we call the American spirit

Perhaps because we know we control our own destiny, we believe deep down inside that working together we can make each new year better than the old

A though last night was one of parties, today is one of resolutions Reviewing the od year we try to decide what we can do better in the new Most of us are with our fames near the warmth of the hearth. wat Fing the parades with our children and fox thail with our friends Gathered together we find strength and renewal

Bat this special holiday time is tragically marred for too many of us. You may have spotted the reason on the road last night if you had to drive home the drunk driver

Each year, approximately 25 000 lives are best in a hol related automobile accidents An add 1 tional 6550.000 are seriously injured De personal pain and heartache caused by these new dess tragedies is immeasurable, » tas of denars are lost in medical wars and through hours of missed Its weekend while millions of are traveling on our highways ar-i streets and while hundreds of milions are cricbrating with their loved ones, let's take a few manutes to think of ways to

text ontwives and our famines from the menace of the drunk and drug influenced

The first step is to realize that a drunk fever accedent i no accident. The motorist as tan muach and then drives who ‚ and then gets behind the wheel a disaster waiting to happen. today tow aniv-ived in up to 55 é an fatal 1. „lway crashes and is a factor in more than 2 mon

motor vehicle accidents each year The drunk driver has turned his car into a weapon-a weapon that threatens the lives and safety of the innocent

Fortunately, there's a brighter side Today we have one of our best opportun ties in years to tackle this tragic problem Public awareness has never been higher Citizens groups local officials, legislators, judges, police officers-people from all over the country are saving. "Enough is enough Let's get these killers off our roads and get them off now

Last April, 1 appointed a Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving to explore the problem more fully and to work with State and local governments to develop et fective programs Their interum report has already come in and has some useful find ings For example, we've found that people who've had too much to drink are less likely to drive when they know they have a good chance of being caught. The potential drunk driver who understands that prosecu tion is certain and the penalty swift will be less likely to insist on driving home

For this deterrent to work, however, State and local law enforcement officials must make it clear that they mean business Programs are already springing up in some States with good resuits in areas where police have made drunk drivers a prime target traffic deaths have begun to decline For example in Maine alcohol related crashes have dropped 41 percent since that – State's drunk driving program was strength ened. The highway death rate there is the lowest since they started keeping records Maryland has an intensified its program and huhway deaths there are at a 19 year kow

Since 1980 11 States have raised the le, ai drinkingg ass and many other commu fubies comfilios and States have strength ened their laws so the requiring that. lat -ry

jail sentences for first offenders. In New York, for example, the fines and fees levied on those arrested are directed to local alcohol programs. In many areas, citizen groups are assisting State and local task forces, providing legislative support, and participating in court monitoring and victim assistance. Of course, until we change our attitudes and our laws, our best protection is still to buckle our safety belts.

There's much to be done if we're to rid ourselves of this scourge on our roads, and there's a continuing need for private initiative. We must each make it our personal responsibility. If we band together, we can change the laws that will help make the difference. If we insist long enough and loudly enough, we can save lives. So, I thought it appropriate to start the ball rolling on this, the first day of the new year. Today, we're taking a break from the

concerns and the bustle of the work-a-day world. But we're also making a new beginning. As we gather around our dining room tables for the midday meal, let us thank God for life and the blessings He's put before us. High among them are our families, our freedom, and the opportunities of a new year.

Let us renew our faith that as free men and women we still have the power to better our lives, and let us resolve to face the challenges of the new year holding that conviction firmly in our hearts. That, after all, is our greatest strength and our greatest gift as Americans.

So, till next week, thanks for listening, happy new year, and God bless you.

Note: The President's remarks were recorded on December 23 in the Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast on January 1.

Thank you very much, and let me assure everyone out there the interruption will be very brief. I just want to say a good afternoon to the courageous people of Monroe, Louisiana, and the other hard-hit areas of this State.

I welcome this opportunity to tell you, the people of Louisiana, you're not alone. The entire Nation has been following your ordeal I know many here have lost their homes and life's possessions. But I also know that with every rise in the water level, the spirit and determination of the people of Louisiana have risen as well

The entire country has watched the volunteers who have been filling and stacking sandbags You exemplify the concept of neighbor helping neighbor, which is the very basis of our way of life.

You know, in Washington, there's a very famous statue of our soldiers raising the flag at Iwo Jima Well, maybe the sight of volunteers keeping back the force of river waters by lifting sandbags would make another dramatic statue symbolizing America's char

acter.

I've just returned from visiting a floodravaged area in this part of the State, and what we've seen has given human shape to the statistics the Nation has been hearing about Louisiana: 2 dead, hundreds injured, nearly 10,000 homeless, thousands of dwellings damaged or destroyed I'm told in the Monroe area alone, 2,000 homes have been damaged, 12,600 acres of farmland have also been damaged.

The flood, whether in Louisiana or Mississippi or in Arkansas, remains as dangerous today as it was in ancient Biblical times

Louisiana's public officials are doing everything possible to lessen the disaster. I've been briefed by your Governor, Dave Treen, Congressman Huckaby, and Mayor Powell of Monroe They're working hard to ease the impact of disaster

And let me add that Louisiana local officials in the parishes and towns have been doing a tremendous job as well And as you'd expect, the National Guard and the Red Cross are on the scene, and the Salva