Two campaigns aimed at promoting ride-hailing rather than driving after consuming alcohol or other impairing substances have received a cash boost.
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) has again partnered with Lyft for the campaigns which has seen State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) in Ohio and Maryland each receive $20,000.
According to the GHSA, the rates of drunk driving rise on holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving with the day before Thanksgiving known as “Blackout Wednesday” or “Drinksgiving” by some people who use it as an opportunity to binge drink.
Nationally, drunk driving deaths have increased 33 per cent in just three years, rising from 10,196 in 2019 to 13,524 in 2022.
The GHSA said research has indicated a correlation between an increase in ride-hailing usage and a decrease in drunk driving.
The Ohio Traffic Safety Office will encourage people to use ride-hailing and provide credits in conjunction with events including during the week of Thanksgiving.
Meanwhile the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office is building upon its “Be The MAKE A PLAN Driver” campaign, promoting discounted rides through social media ads and organic postings. The statewide campaign is a call to action for drivers to plan ahead, so they have a sober ride home. Maryland will make 1,000 ride credits available, valued at $20 each, at varying times across the state.
“Our partnership with the Governors Highway Safety Association helps prevent impaired driving and keep Ohioans and Marylanders safe this fall,” said Heather Foster, Head of Global Public Policy at Lyft.
“Studies show that Lyft and rideshare are associated with a decrease in impaired driving incidents—in fact, 59 per cent of riders use Lyft to find a rideshare driver when they are planning to drink alcohol or use another substance that could impair driving ability. We believe partnerships like this one—now in its sixth year—can help to save lives and keep our roads safer.”
