Taxi rides offered for holiday revelers
You can't beat this deal: Go out to a bar this Labor Day weekend, drink like a fish and get a taxi ride home. Free. No lawyer fees, no bail, no alcohol education classes, no fines, no jail time.
That's the offer being made by AAA Mid-Atlantic, the State Highway Administration and Yellow Cab this weekend. It's the return of the Tipsy? Taxi! program that was launched to combat drunk driving on major holidays when the booze typically flows freely.
This weekend's program runs from 4 p.m. Monday through 4 a.m. Tuesday. Passengers must be at least 21 and must have been drinking at a restaurant in Baltimore. The rides are free up to a fare of $50.
Last year, the program provided only 32 Labor Day rides. Surely the boozers of Baltimore can do better than that. You can get a ride by calling 1-877-963-TAXI.
Comments
so this is only for monday night? that doesent make much sense most people have work and school tuesday. or is it all weekend? but sunday night would make more sense
Posted by: mike | September 4, 2009 11:26 AM
I agree. Doing this on Monday night seems like a cheap way to get positive PR. Sunday night would make the most sense as a lot of people will drink a few more than usual since they don't have to report to work the next day. On Monday night many will be getting ready to go back to the daily grind and/or sending the kids to school.
Posted by: rudy_d | September 4, 2009 4:33 PM
Michael, thanks for helping to spread the word about the campaign.
While alcohol-related fatalities declined nationwide and in Maryland in 2008 from 2007, far too many lives are still being lost here in Maryland and on roads across the country due to alcohol and impaired driving crashes.
We put a post up, too , with more information, and I hope you and your readers will check it out.
In response to reader Mike, yes the campaign is only in effect one night – Monday.
However, you make a valid point. In 2007, we did offer the service for the entire Labor Day weekend and provided 166 rides. Unfortunately, the program has become so successful and well received that it is not possible for us to offer rides for the entire weekend this year due to limited funding (this program is funded in part by AAA Mid-Atlantic and a grant from the Maryland Highway Safety Office).
Whenever we are limited to offering the campaign for one day only, we provide the service on the actual holiday.
Enjoy the holiday weekend and drive safely!
Christine Delise
AAA Mid-Atlantic
Posted by: Christine Delise | September 4, 2009 4:42 PM
I'm happy to publicize this program because there's an underlying point that goes beyond free rides. Even when you pay full fare, a taxi ride is cheap compared with the costs associated with a DUI arrest.
Posted by: Michael Dresser | September 4, 2009 5:23 PM
This doesn't make much sense. Monday night? Monday night is likely to be one of the slowest nights of the year. I assume that one must also have a receipt from a restaurant that serves until 4 a.m. Why not just offer free unicorn rides?
Posted by: Owl Meat Gravy | September 4, 2009 6:47 PM
You should be ashamed of promoting this completely fake promotion. Have you no ethics or morality to be such a petty pawn of any interest group of advertiser that wants to exploit you?
Posted by: ceramic kitty | September 5, 2009 6:48 PM
I get the frustration, but as mom used to say, don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Posted by: Jed | September 6, 2009 12:37 AM