Free Free Taxi Rides Under Way in Montgomery County

BETHESDA, MD — If you plan to celebrate the holiday season with alcohol this year, the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program will give you a free cab ride under its annual Holiday SoberRide program.

Montgomery County authorities urge adults to use Sober Ride or another service to get safely home from holiday parties and festivities. Free rides will be offered from local taxicab companies between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. each evening from Dec. 16 to Jan. 1.

“Last December, nearly 1,500 (1,456) Greater Washington residents did the right thing and availed themselves of this lifesaving service rather than possibly driving home impaired,” said Kurt Gregory Erickson, WRAP’s president, in a press release. “For SoberRide’s hours of operation during just last New Year’s Eve, alone, such ridership (580) translated into the removal of a would-be drunk driver from our shared roadways every 49-seconds.”

Montgomery County residents can call the SoberRide phone number at 1-800-200-8294 (TAXI) during the program hours and catch a no-cost, safe way home. AT&T wireless customers can dial #WRAP for the same service. The rides are free up to a $30 fare.

Participating Taxi Companies in Maryland: Barwood, Inc. (Montgomery County) Silver Cab of Prince George’s County (Prince George’s County)

You cannot reserve a SoberRide or schedule a pickup in advance. To receive a ride, you must call 1-800-200-8294 (TAXI) during the program hours. A SoberRide call operator will direct your request to the correct participating cab company.

If you plan to celebrate with alcohol during the holidays, include a sober driver in your plans:

• If you will be drinking, designate a sober driver before the party begins.
• When you know you’ll be drinking, leave your keys at home or give them to someone else.
• If you have been drinking, do not drive. Call a taxi, phone a sober friend or family member, use public transportation or call SoberRide at 1-800-200-TAXI.

More information about WRAP’s SoberRide initiative can be found at www.soberride.com.

Image from SoberRide