“SI Safe Ride” initiative to provide free Uber rides on Thanksgiving Eve to combat drunk driving
Borough President James S. Oddo, District Attorney Michael McMahon, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and Uber are pleased to announce the continuation of their joint effort to combat drunk driving. To discourage Staten Islanders from driving under the influence, the “SI Safe Ride Initiative” will provide free Uber rides on Thanksgiving Eve (Wednesday, November 27th).
Between the hours of 8pm on November 27th and 3am on November 28th, Staten Island residents can open up their Uber apps and enter the promo code “SAFERIDESI19” to unlock two free rides, up to $15 each. Both rides must start and end on Staten Island.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving has noted that Thanksgiving Eve, also known as “Blackout Wednesday,” sees a spike in instances of drunk driving. It is one of the busiest drinking nights of the year and represents the beginning of the holiday season when there is a known increase in instances of impaired driving This initiative aims to ensure that all Staten Islanders have a reliable ride around their communities.
The Forest Avenue BID, the South Shore BID, and the Richmond County Bar Association have generously signed on as main sponsors of this initiative. In addition, the Staten Island Rotary Club, Li Greci’s Staaten, and The Vanderbilt have also agreed to become sponsors.
Uber has been proven to help reduce drunk driving across America. For example, DUI arrests in Seattle decreased by more than 10% after Uber started serving riders and drivers in the city, according to a recent study. A recent independent study conducted by Temple University found cities where Uber operates have 3.6%-5.6% fewer drunk driving deaths than cities without access to ridesharing.
