A local nonprofit organization announced today that free safe rides will be offered to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Washington metropolitan area during the winter holidays beginning Dec. 20.
Offered by the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), the 2019 Holiday SoberRide program will be in operation nightly, 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. from Dec. 20, 2019 to Jan. 1, 2020 as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk holiday.
Each evening, during this six-hour period, area residents age 21 and older celebrating with alcohol may download Lyft to their phones, then enter a SoberRide code in the app's “Promo” section to receive their no cost (up to $15) safe transportation home. A separate Holiday SoberRide promo code will be posted at 9 pm on December 20, 27 and 31 on www.SoberRide.com.
Last December, nearly 2,000 (1,988) people in the area used WRAP’s Holiday SoberRide program rather than possibly driving home impaired. The charity also offers its SoberRide program on St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Independence Day and Halloween.
“More than a third (38%) of all U.S. traffic fatalities during the holiday season in 2018 involved drunk drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” said Kurt Gregory Erickson, WRAP’s President.
"Lyft is proud of the role ridesharing has played in reducing impaired driving across the nation. Here in the DC area, partnering with the Washington Regional Alcohol Program allows us to take our commitment to providing reliable, convenient, and responsible transportation a step further, particularly during times of the year when people are out celebrating and in need of a ride home," said Steve Taylor, Regional Director, Lyft Washington, D.C.
Since 1991, WRAP’s SoberRide program has provided 78,926 free safe rides home to would-be drunk drivers in the Greater Washington area.