[DATE late November or early December]

[NAME]
Editorial Page Editor
[NEWSPAPER]
[ADDRESS]

Dear [NAME]:

The nation’s highway safety community has set a goal of reducing alcohol-related fatalities to 11,000 by the year 2005. Last year, we realized only a 1.6 percent drop nationwide, so we are a long way from reaching this ambitious goal. We will only reach it with the help of everyone in the community. [LOCAL 3D COALITION] is focusing again on the deadly December holidays, when impaired driving is a huge problem. We want to make this year safer on our area roads and we have an ambitious plan to do that. But we need your help.

Please consider an editorial endorsing Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month and this year’s campaign, Strengthening Safe Communities. We want to emphasize that every part of the community (businesses and employers, citizen and civic groups, health care providers and public health agencies, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and judges, schools, government, the military, etc.) has a role to play in the fight against impaired driving. Please consider an editorial position in favor of one or more of the following programs:

• Lights on for Life Day on Friday, December 18, when motorists are asked to drive with their headlights on all day to remind people about the impaired driving problem and to remember those killed by impaired drivers

• National Holiday Lifesavers Weekend, Friday, December 18 through Sunday, December 20, when law enforcement agencies across the nation, including [NAME LOCAL AGENCIES INVOLVED], will increase their enforcement efforts against impaired drivers, speeders, aggressive drivers, and others who make the roads especially dangerous at this time of year

• Proposed legislation scheduled to be voted upon by the state legislature in 1999 [ADD INFO ON BILL NAMES, NUMBER, CONTENT, SPONSORS, ETC.]

• [LOCAL 3D COALITION]’s efforts to reduce impaired driving through [DESCRIBE YOUR LOCAL EFFORTS]

A fact sheet about the impaired driving problem is enclosed, as well as information about our coalition. If you have any questions, please call [CONTACT NAME AND PHONE]. Thank you very much for your consideration and we look forward to having the support of [NEWSPAPER].

Sincerely,