AAA
The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years Day is the deadliest time of the year as it’s related to impaired driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
With more than 102 million people expected to travel by automobile this holiday – the most on record since AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2001, AAA, in partnership with Budweiser will offer free rides and vehicle towing to anybody in Tennessee and eight other states through its Tow to Go program.
So whether you’re doing a Santa pub crawl or knocking a few back at the company holiday party, you can enjoy your drinks without worrying about how you’ll get home beginning December 21st through Wednesday, January 2nd. However, AAA says the program is meant for a safety net for those who didn’t plan ahead.
A 2017 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 20.7 percent of drivers who reported consuming alcohol last year, admitted to driving even when they thought they had consumed too much.
In its 20th year, the Tow to Go program aims to prevent those instances of impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel and risking the lives of other motorists.
“With millions of Americans expected to be on the roadways this holiday season, we encourage everyone to plan ahead for safe celebrations,” Amy Stracke, managing director of traffic safety advocacy for AAA, said. “Before getting behind the wheel impaired, we want to remind people that the Tow to Go program is available over the holidays.”
To date, over 25,000 impaired drivers have been taken off the roadways through the program.
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“The Tow to Go program is a smart option to promote the use of designated drivers and help reduce impaired driving,” Adam Warrington, vice president of corporate social responsibility at Budweiser, said. “We are proud to partner with AAA and their roadside assistance drivers to make our roadways safer during the holidays.”
To take advantage of the offer, drivers can call (855)-286-9246 and be transported to a safe location within 10 miles. Rides are free to both AAA members and non-members.
“No family should have to experience a needless tragedy during the holidays as a result of an impaired driver,” Stephanie Milani, Tennessee Public Affairs Director for AAA, said. “Whether you call Tow to Go, use a designated driver, or stay where you are celebrating, it’s critical to have a plan for getting home safely and never get behind the wheel impaired.”
