Get Free Lyft Rides For St. Patrick's Day In D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — While many people are excited to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, don't risk your life or the lives of others when partying in D.C. The nonprofit organization Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) partnered with the ride-sharing service Lyft to provide WRAP's SoberRide service in the Washington-metropolitan area on Saturday, March 17.

Residents can use the popular and free safe ride service SoberRide from 4 p.m. Saturday, March 17 to 4 a.m. Sunday, March 18. This is a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during a traditionally high-risk period, the organization says.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over a third (39%) of all U.S. traffic deaths involve drunk drivers on St. Patrick's Day.

Area residents age 21 or older celebrating with alcohol can download Lyft to their phones, then enter a promo code in the app's 'Promo' section to receive their no cost (up to $15 fare) safe transportation home. WRAP’s promo code will be posted at 2 p.m. March 17.

While SoberRide provides a free ride home up to a $15 fare, callers must pay for any fare over $15.

Last year, 460 people in the Washington-metropolitan area used WRAP’s St. Patrick’s Day SoberRide program rather than possibly driving home impaired.

Nine of the Washington-metropolitan area’s better-known Irish restaurants have also united to ensure a safe St. Patrick’s Day celebration this year by sponsoring SoberRide. These establishments include: The Dubliner Restaurant & Pub (D.C.); Fadó (D.C.); James Hoban’s Irish Restaurant & Bar (D.C.); Kelly's Irish Times (D.C.); Martin's Tavern Est. 1933 (D.C.); Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub (D.C. & VA); O’Sullivan’s (VA); Rí Rá Irish Pub (D.C.) and Siné Irish Pub (VA).

SoberRide is offered throughout Lyft's Washington, D.C. coverage area which includes all or parts of: the District of Columbia; the Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince George's; and the Northern Virginia counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William.

The charity also offers its SoberRide program on Cinco de Mayo, Independence Day, Halloween and the winter holidays like Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Before SoberRide partnered with Lyft, residents had to call an 800 number to receive a free cab ride home.

Since 1991, WRAP’s SoberRide program has provided 70,544 free safe rides home to would-be drunk drivers in the Greater Washington area. More information about WRAP's SoberRide initiative can be found at www.soberride.com.