Seeking to deter impaired driving around the holidays, Lyft and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) recently awarded nearly $100,000 in grant funds and ride credits to five State Highway Safety Offices.
“This holiday season, we encourage anyone who is going to drink or consume cannabis to plan ahead and take advantage of a discounted ride from Lyft to help ensure the safety of all road users,” GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins said. “Rideshare services offer a convenient alternative to driving while impaired, and GHSA is excited to partner with Lyft to offer this gift of a discounted safe ride home during the holidays.”
California, Illinois, Maine, Oregon, and Washington will benefit from the donations, which will be used to encourage road users to use rideshare services instead of driving while impaired. This is the second year Lyft and GHSA have awarded grants through the program, which not only cuts down on the number of people at risk but benefits rideshare services at the same time.
Each year, the GHSA noted, hundreds of lives are lost due to impaired drivers on the roads. In 2017, data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed as many as one in four weekend drivers tested positive for driving-impairing drugs around the holidays. Over that December, 885 people were killed in traffic crashes involving drunk drivers.
“Lyft is offering discounted rides this holiday season to encourage people to plan smart alternatives to help them reach their destinations responsibly,” Ed Hutchison, Road Safety Partnerships Manager at Lyft, said. “We’re very excited to partner with GHSA and the State Highway Safety Offices to provide everyone on the road with a sober and reliable ride home.”
In California, the funding will support the DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze awareness campaign aimed at raising awareness.
In Illinois, the capital area will see law enforcement officers providing Lyft discount codes through social media for free round-trip nighttime rides.
Maine intends to create a Lyft Lounge in downtown Portland that will run through New Year’s Day, where potential riders can get discounted Lyft rides.
Oregon will offer Lyft credits for Friday and Saturday nights throughout the holiday season to those who engage with certain partner agencies on social media.
Washington will focus on a public relations effort to encourage sober rides in specific areas and promote discounted Lyft rides as further motivation.