MORE THAN A ONE-THIRD OF U.S. HIGHWAY DEATHS ON INDEPENDENCE DAY INVOLVE DRUNK DRIVERS
Washington, DC, June 17– Preparing to combat that time of year when, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over one-third (39%) of all U.S. traffic deaths involve drunk drivers*, free July 4th Lyft rides will be offered to deter impaired driving throughout the Washington-metropolitan area beginning Thursday, July 4th, 2019.
Offered by the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), the 2019 Independence Day SoberRide® program will be in operation beginning at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 4th (Independence Day) until 2:00 a.m. Friday, July 5th, 2019 as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk holiday.
During this seven-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. WRAP’s Independence Day SoberRide® promo code will be posted at 6:00 pm on Thursday, July 4th on www.SoberRide.com.
Last year, a record 746 persons in the Washington-metropolitan area used WRAP’s July 4th SoberRide® program rather than possibly driving home impaired. The charity also offers its SoberRide® program on St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Halloween and the winter holidays.
“Over one-third (39%) of all U.S. traffic fatalities during July 4th, 2017 involved drunk drivers according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” said Kurt Gregory Erickson, WRAP’s President. “Worse, over three-fourths (79%) of alcohol-impaired fatalities during the 2017 July 4th period occurred during nighttime hours.”
SoberRide® is offered throughout Lyft’s Washington, D.C. coverage area which includes all or parts of: the District of Columbia; the Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince George’s; and the Northern Virginia counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William.
“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, GM, Lyft Washington, D.C.
Sponsors of this year’s Independence Day SoberRide® campaign include the 395 Express Lanes, AAA Mid-Atlantic, Anheuser-Busch, Brown-Forman, Constellation Brands, District of Columbia Association of Beverage Alcohol Wholesalers, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Giant Food, Glory Days Grill, Kendall-Jackson, Lyft, MillerCoors, Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington and the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association.
Since 1991, WRAP’s SoberRide® program has provided 76,987 free safe rides home to would-be drunk drivers in the Greater Washington area.
Founded in 1982, the nonprofit [501(c)(3)] Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) is a coalition of diverse interests using effective education, innovative programs and targeted advocacy to end alcohol-impaired driving and underage drinking in the Washington, DC metro area. Through public education, innovative health education programs and advocacy, WRAP is credited with keeping the metro-Washington area’s alcohol-related traffic deaths historically lower than the national average.
More information about WRAP’s SoberRide® initiative can be found at www.SoberRide.com.
*Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, see: