Safe Rides in South Orange and Maplewood

Drunk driving harms many young adults in the United States, whether they are driving or riding as passengers with impaired drivers. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, drunk driving is the number one cause of death among young adults. This alarming fact inspired the establishment of US, an interstate organization which states its goal as providing “a safer environment in the local community.”

When CHS junior Tess Cohen found out about Safe Rides US, she felt compelled to introduce the organization to her own town. “Because it's inevitable that teens will go out at night, often regardless of whether or not they have a safe ride home, I thought the community would benefit from such a program,” Cohen explained. And in addition to the issue of drunk driving, Cohen said she was also concerned by the many instances of students being robbed while walking home.

After speaking to one of the founders of Safe Rides last spring, Cohen got to work on developing Safe Rides MAPSO. She established safety protocols with the local police department, reached out to the Boy Scouts of America for sponsorship, and assembled a group of teen volunteers.

Each Safe Rides MAPSO shift is headquartered at an adult volunteer’s house and includes a dispatcher, a navigator, a board member, and, of course, a driver. All of these volunteers are currently CHS students. However, drivers must be 18, which unfortunately has limited the number of students available; Safe Rides MAPSO is therefore reaching out to Seton Hall Prep students to be drivers as well.

Safe Rides MAPSO became officially active on February 18, with senior Amy French as the driver during its first shift ever. “Driving was so much fun!” she recalled. “You get to choose who your navigator is, so [we] just spent 3 hours cruising around town and having a good time.” French chose to participate because, as she explained, “We can't stop kids from drinking, but at least we can stop them from drinking and driving.”

Right now, shifts are held on Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. To be eligible for a ride, students must be enrolled at CHS or at Maplewood or South Middle School and must be listed in the school directory or have a school ID. Students who need rides can expect security and confidentiality, though volunteers have the right to call the police if they feel that someone is obviously in danger.

To any student who is interested in volunteering, French urges you to do so. “It's a really great organization and it's a good time,” she says. “Plus there were cupcakes at headquarters.”

For more info, follow Safe Rides on Twitter at @saferidesmapso or like Safe Rides MAPSO’s Facebook page.

For a Safe Ride this Saturday night, call 301-541-SAFE.