FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
757 Sober Rides for Columbus Day Weekend
(Saturday and Sunday)
Remember, Drugged and Drunk Driving IS Impaired Driving! Plan ahead.
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Hampton Roads, VA. (September 2025) – Autumn in Hampton Roads is filled with lots of great activities, from fall festivals, college football games, or “leaf peeping” in Virginia’s beautiful mountains. For many Virginians, there is also a long holiday weekend that gives more time to enjoy what Hampton Roads has to offer. Sadly, this holiday weekend continues to be one of the most dangerous times on Virginia highways. Columbus Day weekend is the second deadliest holiday weekend of the year. During the 2024 Columbus Day weekend (10/11-14/2024), there were 106 alcohol related crashes with 4 fatalities and 66 people were injured throughout Virginia according to the DMV Highway Safety Office.
Drive Safe Hampton Roads (DSHR) wants everyone to plan ahead and designate a sober driver, arrange for a sober ride home or use Drive Safe Hampton Roads’ (DSHR) 757 Sober Ride powered by Lyft at https://www.drivesafehr.org/757-sober-ride.
If you do plan to celebrate with alcohol, make a plan. Never drive while impaired, and do not let a friend drive if they have been drinking or using drugs. There is never an excuse to drive under the influence. Arrange a sober ride home or use DSHR’s 757 Sober Ride by visiting www.drivesafehr.org/757-sober-ride.
Drive Safe Hampton Roads (DSHR) is sponsoring two (2) 757 Sober Ride opportunities for the Columbus Day holiday weekend:
- 3 PM Saturday, October 11 – 3 AM Sunday, October 12
- 3 PM Sunday, October 12 – 3 AM Monday, October 13
Powered by Lyft, individuals 21 and older celebrating with alcohol, legal or illegal drugs may take advantage of this ride, up to $15, by following these steps:
- Download the Lyft app to your cell phone.
- Go to drivesafehr.org/757-sober-ride to get the 757 Sober Ride promo code.
- DSHR’s 757 Sober Ride campaign promo codes will be posted at 3 PM on each day of the campaign for the individual sessions (codes are not interchangeable with the sessions).
- Enter the 757 Sober Ride promo code in the app’s “Payment” tab (under the “Add Lyft Pass” option).
- Receive a sober ride home, up to $15 off the Lyft price.
The codes will only work if used during the above-stated times for rides originating from or having a destination within Hampton Roads. Valid while supplies last. Subject to Lyft’s Terms of Service.
“Impaired Driving can come with a huge cost. Your freedom, a loved one or someone else’s loved one” said Brian Hennessy, Chairperson of DSHR’s Impaired Driving Prevention committee. “Make the right choice by choosing 757 Sober Ride or allow a designated sober driver to take you home safely without any incidents.”
DSHR asks the media not to post the campaign’s promo codes online, but to link to the Drive Safe Hampton Roads’ website (www.drivesafehr.org/757-sober-ride).
Supporters of the 2025 757 Sober Ride campaigns are Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law and funded in part by a grant from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
Drive Safe Hampton Roads (DSHR) is a non-profit regional coalition whose mission is to improve roadway safety and reduce death and injury from vehicle crashes using initiatives that include educational programs, information sharing, and partnerships with public and private sector organizations. For over 37 years, Drive Safe Hampton Roads has been dedicated to preventing crashes, injuries, and fatalities on the region’s roadways. DSHR is the oldest, continuous traffic safety coalition in the Commonwealth. For more information: www.drivesafehr.org or call (757) 498-2562.
Media Contact:
Jim McElligott
Impaired Driving Admin. Coordinator
Drive Safe Hampton Roads
Email: [email protected]
Voice Mail: 757-498-2562