757 Sober LYFT Rides

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 757 Sober Rides for St. Patrick’s Day Weekend

Over the 2021 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period, specifically, 47 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes.*

Hampton Roads, VA. (March 8, 2024) – St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the United States extend as far back as the American colonial period. Today, it is one of our nation’s most popular holidays, celebrated with festivals, parades, and parties. These celebrations frequently feature themed cocktails and green pints, and the amount of alcohol consumed on this holiday is higher than average. People are more likely to make poor decisions as a result, including driving while intoxicated.

So, don’t rely on the “Luck o’ the Irish” 🍀 to get home safely! If you’ve been drinking in the Hampton Roads area, call a sober friend or use free or reduced Lyft ride-shares offered by Drive Safe HR to alcohol-impaired drivers throughout Hampton Roads St. Patrick’s Day weekend. www.DriveSafeHR.org/757-sober-ride

Drive Safe Hampton Roads (DSHR) is sponsoring 757 Sober Ride for St. Patrick’s Day Weekend for two separate times: ‘Parade Saturday’ from 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 16th until 8:00 p.m. The second campaign runs on ‘St. Patrick’s Day’, Sunday, March 17th from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. Monday, March 18th.

During these campaigns, area residents age 21 and older celebrating with alcohol may download the Lyft app to their phones, then enter the 757 Sober Ride code in the app’s “Payment” tab (under the “Add Lyft Pass” option) to receive their no-cost (up to $15) safe transportation home. The code will only work if used during the above-stated periods for rides originating from or having a destination within Hampton Roads. DSHR’s St. Patrick’s Day 757 Sober Ride promo codes will be posted at noon on Saturday and again at 8 p.m. Sunday, at www.DriveSafeHR.org/757-sober-ride. Valid while supplies last. Subject to Lyft’s Terms of Service.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 272 lives were lost in drunk-driving crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period (6:00 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18) between 2017 and 2021. In an effort to reduce injuries and fatalities in Hampton Roads, DSHR promotes the 757 Sober Ride campaign for rides originating and/or for destinations in Hampton Roads. Supporters of the 2024 757 Sober Ride campaign include Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law, the Christopher King Foundation, and the Virginia DMV.

“It is critical that anyone heading out to a bar or to St. Paddy’s Day parade plan for a sober driver to see them home safely,” said Jonathan Turner, 757 Sober Ride Chairperson. “If you have plans on your calendar, make smart choices and plan out how you’re going to get home safely once the celebration ends. Plan ahead for a sober ride before you reach the pint of no return! Driving drunk is deadly, and no one should ever take that risk.”

Keri Douglas, President, Drive Safe Hampton Roads recommends, “If you are the designated driver, commit to 100% sobriety to keep you and your friends safe. If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact local law enforcement immediately. Doing so could save your life, your passengers, and others on the road. And, if you have a friend who is about to drive impaired, take away their keys and help them make arrangements to get them home safely--it will be the greatest gift you ever give them. We want everyone to enjoy the fun, no matter if you are Irish or not!”

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