AAA’s Holiday Safe Ride Program Aims to Get Drunk Drivers Off the Roads This Holiday Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the carefree summer season. It’s always filled with picnics, cookouts and parties — not to mention road trips.

The number of people on the roads balloons over this holiday weekend — and so does the number of motor vehicle accidents. In 2016, the National Safety Council estimated that nearly 450 people would die and another 50,000 motorists would be injured over the Memorial Day weekend.

Combine that with overexcited partiers imbibing too much alcohol and it’s a weekend of drunk-driving tragedies waiting to happen. Over Memorial Day weekend in 2014, 495 people were arrested for DUI in Arizona alone.

To help prevent DUI accidents over holiday weekends, the American Auto Association (AAA) created the Holiday Safe Ride Program. They previously offered the service in certain states over St. Patrick’s Day weekend and it will be available this Memorial Day weekend as well.

The program begins Friday, May 25 and ends on Tuesday, May 29 at 6 a.m. in 10 states across the country. The Holiday Safe Ride Program is open to everyone (both AAA members and non-members).

To get a person (and their car!) home safely, simply call either (855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246.

The following states are participating in this year’s Holiday Safe Ride Program:

• Florida
• Georgia
• Indiana (Fort Wayne and South Bend areas ONLY)
• Iowa
• Michigan
• Nebraska
• North Dakota
• Ohio (Hancock County only, on Monday from 12 p.m. until 2 a.m. Call (419) 425-3908.)
• Tennesee
• Wisconsin

If your state or county isn’t included in AAA’s Holiday Safe Ride Program, there may be other options available to you. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration created a list of sober ride programs across the United States.

Whatever you decide to do, remember to celebrate responsibly!