Nonprofit to Offer Free Lyft Rides in Alexandria to Prevent Drunk Driving

A regional nonprofit is again planning to offer free rides through Lyft to help keep drunk drivers off Alexandria streets during the holidays.

Starting on Dec. 20, the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) will offer its annual Holiday SoberRide program nightly from 10 p.m.-4 a.m., until Jan. 1.

In addition to Alexandria, the program is offered to rides in D.C., Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland, and Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties in Virginia.

According to a press release:

Each evening, during this six-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. A separate Holiday SoberRide promo code will be posted at 9:00 pm on December 20, 27 and 31.

WRAP reported that 1,988 people in the D.C. area used the SoberRide program last December. The program also offers free rides on St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Independence Day and Halloween.

“More than a third (38%) of all U.S. traffic fatalities during the holiday season in 2018 involved drunk drivers according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” Kurt Gregory Erickson, president of WRAP, said in the press release.

Image via WRAP