Lyft Offers Texas Revelers Free Rides 4th Of July

AUSTIN, TX — The ride share firm Lyft wants people to get home safe over the 4th of July celebration period. To that end, the company is providing revelers $50,000 in free rides across the state.

The initiative is part of Lyft’s commitment to reduce drinking and driving through its Sober Rides TX program, launched in May during Cinco de Mayo.

The 4th of July is traditionally a high-risk time to be on the roads, officials noted. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 40 percent of all U.S. traffic deaths involved drunk drivers on July 4th in 2016. Two-thirds of those killed in drunk driving crashes that year had BACs of .15 or higher, according to the data.

Texans can claim their free Lyft ride (up to $10 discount), valid between July 3 at 12 p.m. through July 5 at 3 a.m. here, or with the code RIDESAFEJULY4. The offer is good for the first $10, and those using the service must pay the balance of the total fare beyond that amount

“The safety of the communities where Lyft operates is something we take very seriously,” Aaron Fox, General Manager for Lyft Central Texas, said. “Ridesharing is an important solution to impaired driving, a major problem over the 4th of July. We launched Sober Rides TX to help keep Texas roads safe by raising awareness and encouraging responsible choices on notoriously dangerous drinking holidays, like the 4th of July, and we look forward to continuing to work with communities to grow this impactful program.”

Leslie Phillips, president of the West 6th Business Association and owner of Dirty Bills, said the initiative aims to keep the entire communities safe: "As owners of hospitality businesses, we're committed to maintaining the safety of the Austin community,"Phillips said. "It's that commitment that drives our partnership with Lyft, whose rideshare services keep impaired drivers off our roads. With America's deadliest holiday coming on July 4th and loads of celebratory imbibing planned, we're thrilled about the introduction of Lyft's Sober Rides TX program, which enables Austinites to safely celebrate the holiday week."

The effort is made more urgent given recent data that show Texas led the nation in traffic fatalities, with alcohol-impaired drivers contributing to 44 percent of those deaths, added Mitch Landry, deputy executive director of government affairs for the Texas Municipal Police Association.

"We are grateful for Lyft's leadership in helping the more than 27,000 local, county and state law enforcement officers we represent across Texas keep our citizens safe," Landry said.

For further details on the Sober Rides TX program, Lyft’s blog post is accessible here.

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