Free Taxi Rides Offered to Stop Drunk Driving on July 4

Don’t drink and drive. If you choose to drink on July 4, designate a driver or call for a free ride from the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP).

The 2016 Independence Day SoberRide program will be in operation beginning at 10 pm on Monday, July 4, and continue until 4 am on Tuesday, July 5, as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk holiday, according to WRAP.

During this six-hour period, area residents celebrating with alcohol may call the toll-free SoberRide phone number 1–800–200–TAXI (8294) and be afforded a no-cost (up to a $ 30 fare), safe way home. AT&T wireless customers can dial #WRAP for the same service.

Last year, 237 persons in the Washington-metropolitan area used WRAP’s Independence Day SoberRide program rather than possibly driving home impaired. The charity also offers its SoberRide program on St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Halloween and the winter holidays leading up to and including New Year’s Eve. Local taxicab companies throughout the Washington-metropolitan area provide this no-cost service to local residents age 21 and older who otherwise may have attempted to drive home after drinking.

“According to government figures, 41-percent of U.S. highway deaths over the July 4th holiday period involve drunk drivers,” said Kurt Gregory Erickson, WRAP’s President. “Worse, more than a fourth of these drivers involved in fatal crashes had blood alcohol concentration levels of .15 or higher.”

SoberRide is offered in the District of Columbia; throughout the Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince George’s; and throughout the Northern Virginia counties of Arlington, Fairfax, (eastern) Loudoun and Prince William.

Participating taxicab companies include: Alexandria Yellow Cab; Barwood; Fairfax Yellow Cab; Loudoun Yellow Cab; Northern Virginia Checker Cab; Red Top Cab; Silver Cab of Prince George’s County; Yellow Cab of D.C.; and Yellow Cab of Prince William County.

Founded in 1982, the nonprofit [501(c)(3)] Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) is a coalition of diverse interests using effective education, innovative programs and targeted advocacy to end alcohol-impaired driving and underage drinking in the Washington, DC metro area. Through public education, innovative health education programs and advocacy, WRAP is credited with historically keeping the metro Washington area’s alcohol-related traffic deaths lower than the national average.

Since 1993, WRAP’s SoberRide program has provided 65,116 free cab rides home to would-be drunk drivers in the Greater Washington area, according to WRAP. For more information, visit www.soberride.com.