If You're Three Sheets To The Wind On St. Paddy's Day, Call AAA To Get You Home Safely

FLORIDA — AAA will be working to keep impaired drivers off the road this St. Patrick’s Day throughout Florida. The Auto Club Group is reactivating its Tow to Go program for the holiday period, providing safe transportation for impaired drivers and their vehicles.

• Tow to Go is active from 6 p.m. Thursday, March 17 – 6 a.m. Monday, March 21
• Should be treated as a last resort

AAA Tow to Go has helped more than 25,000 impaired drivers from the road. When called, a tow truck transports the would-be impaired driver and their vehicle to a safe location within a 10-mile radius. The service is free, yet AAA asks that it be treated as a backup plan.

Approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers, AAA said.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes every day – that’s one person every 52 minutes.

“Driving impaired doesn’t only endanger yourself, but risks the lives of all the adults and children you share the road with,” Mark Jenkins, spokesman, said. "Although AAA is proud to provide this life-saving program, we urge people to identify a safe ride home before they party, and treat Tow to Go as their last resort.”

Tow To Go Guidelines, According To AAA

• Provided from 6 p.m. Thursday, March 17 – 6 a.m. Monday, March 21
• Free and available to AAA members and non-members.
• Confidential local ride for one person and their vehicle to a safe location within a 10 miles radius.
• AAA service vehicles are limiting passengers to one (1) per vehicle, in accordance with established COVID-19 safety protocols. Additional passengers need to make other arrangements.
• Appointments cannot be scheduled in advance to use Tow to Go. It is designed as a safety net for those that did not plan ahead. Always choose a designated driver before celebrating.
• In some situations, AAA may need to make other arrangements to get an impaired individual a safe ride home.
• Tow to Go may not be available in rural areas or during severe weather conditions.