More than 2,100 people across the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area took advantage of free rides home during Halloween weekend, helping reduce the number of potentially impaired drivers on local roads.
According to the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), its SoberRide program provided 2,175 free Lyft rides between October 30 and November 1, marking the second-highest Halloween ridership total since the program launched in 1991. “For its hours of operation during the Halloween weekend, this level of ridership translates into SoberRide removing a potential drunk driver from Greater Washington’s roadways every 19-seconds,” said WRAP President Kurt Erickson.
The program operated from 10pm to 4am on Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, offering residents ages 21 and older free Lyft rides valued at up to $15. Participants could access the promotion through special codes entered in the Lyft app.
SoberRide was available throughout the Washington metropolitan area, including Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, Washington, D.C., and portions of Northern Virginia. Montgomery County communities served included Rockville, Gaithersburg, Takoma Park, and other areas within Lyft’s coverage zone. Since its introduction in 1991, SoberRide has provided 107,244 free rides home to people who otherwise might have driven after drinking.
In addition to Halloween, WRAP offers the service during other holidays and celebrations associated with increased alcohol consumption, including Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Independence Day, and the winter holidays through New Year’s Eve.
The program is supported by a combination of public and private sponsors, including Lyft, the Maryland Highway Safety Office, the District of Columbia Highway Safety Office, and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
