Uber To Offer Free Rides Across Long Island On Thanksgiving Eve

LONG ISLAND, NY - Good news for those looking to grab a few drinks before dealing with their families on Thanksgiving -- Uber will be offering free rides across Long Island for Thanksgiving Eve.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Uber announced a joint effort to combat drunk driving on Thanksgiving Eve, also known as “Blackout Wednesday,” which is one of the busiest drinking nights of the year and the beginning of the holiday season.

Typically on Thanksgiving Eve, there is an increase in cases of impaired driving.

“With more transportation options in Suffolk County than ever before, there is no excuse to get behind the wheel after a night of drinking,” Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone said. “I support efforts such as these that incentivize residents to stay off the road, and this Thanksgiving Eve, I urge everyone to enjoy themselves safely, responsibly, and plan ahead.”

All Long Island residents and visitors can enter the promo code “SAFERIDELI” into the Uber app by navigating to the menu, tapping Payment, and then Add Promo/Gift Code.

This will unlock 2 free rides up to $15 per ride that start and end on Long Island on Thanksgiving Eve. The free rides are available between 9 p.m. on Wednesday and 3 a.m. on Thursday.

“Every time a driver decides to get behind the wheel drunk they are making a conscious decision to risk the lives of every person on the road around them,” Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said. “Drunk and drugged driving is an epidemic on Long Island and this initiative by Uber and MADD will help make our streets safer this holiday season.”

Suffolk and Nassau counties both have some of the most alcohol-related crashes across the state’s 62 counties, according to data released in 2015.

According to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, there were more than 5,000 arrests for impaired driving in Nassau County and more than 4,600 arrests for impaired driving in Suffolk County in 2016.

Last year there were also 394 alcohol-related crashes with injuries and 35 alcohol-related crashes with fatalities in Suffolk County. In Nassau County there were 313 alcohol-related crashes with injuries and 22 alcohol-related crashes with fatalities.

“The need for alternative transportation during the busy holiday season is vital as it helps those who have been drinking make responsible choices,” Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory said. "Acting responsibly is a choice and I am hopeful that this initiative will result in fewer alcohol-related accidents and lead to a happy and safe holiday season.”

Also See: Uber's self-driving car fleet will be supplied by Volvo

AP Photo/Seth Wenig