SoberRide Offers Free Taxi Rides on Cinco de Mayo

BETHESDA, MD — For many area residents May 5 – Cinco de Mayo – is simply an excuse to chug margaritas and tequila.

And local authorities say it has increasingly become a day when drunk drivers are on the roads.

If you choose to drink that day, designate a driver or call for a free ride from the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, which serves Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

The 2016 Cinco de Mayo SoberRide program, now in its second year, will operate beginning at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, through 4 a.m. on Friday, May 6, as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk holiday.

To receive a free cab ride home (up to a $30 fare), call 800-200-8294 (TAXI). AT&T customers may dial #WRAP from their wireless phones to reach the service. Do not call a taxi company directly for SoberRide service as the ride will not be covered under this program.

You must be 21 or older to use the SoberRide service.

General SoberRide Information

WRAP’s SoberRide provides a free cab ride home up to a $30 fare. Callers are financially responsible for anything over $30.

All calls must originate in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland; the cities of Rockville, Bowie, College Park, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt and Takoma Park in Maryland; the District of Columbia; Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William and Eastern Loudoun Counties in Virginia; and the Cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas and Manassas Park in Virginia.

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 12-hours of the Cinco de Mayo program. A SoberRide call operator will direct your request to the correct participating cab company.

Participating Taxi Companies:
Alexandria Yellow Cab (Alexandria)
Barwood, Inc. (Montgomery County)
Fairfax Yellow Cab (Fairfax County)
Loudoun Yellow Cab (Eastern Loudoun County)
Northern Virginia Checker (Prince William County)
Red Top Cab Company (Arlington County)
Silver Cab of Prince George’s County (Prince George’s County)
Yellow Cab of District of Columbia (District of Columbia)
Yellow Cab of Prince William County (Prince William County)

“According to government figures, over a third of U.S. highway deaths on Cinco de Mayo involve drunk drivers,” said Kurt Gregory Erickson, WRAP’s president. “Worse, nearly a fifth of these drivers involved in fatal crashes had blood alcohol concentration levels of .15 or higher.”

For more information, visit http://www.soberride.com.