How
to Implement a Community-Based Designated Driver Program
Program Planning
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RED
TOP CAB COMPANY SUPPORTS SOBERRIDE PROGRAM
Businesses are likely to support your efforts if they see that their money
or services are producing some measurable effect for your program. The Washington
Regional Alcohol Program's (WRAP) Northern Virginia based SoberRide program
has provided more than 10,000 free cab rides home to would-be drunk drivers
since 1993. The program's largest quantifiable source of volunteer support
comes from its dispatching partner, Red Top Cab of Arlington, Virginia.
For each holiday period when SoberRide is offered, Red Top Cab provides the
donated support of at least three communications operators and one dispatcher
per day to handle the hundreds of calls that come in to SoberRide's 800 number.
It's estimated that Red Top Cab contributes more than $12,000 per year in
support of SoberRide in the form of personnel and free taxi service. Approximately
1,500 taxi cab drivers from seven jurisdictions take part in each Sober Ride
campaign.
Evidence of SoberRide's viability is its dramatic growth; its ridership has
increased by more than 26 percent just from 1998 to 1999. In tandem with SoberRide's
growth – and its efforts to rid Northern Virginia's roads of impaired
drivers – alcohol and drug-related traffic fatalities in Northern Virginia
have also steadily declined. The number of alcohol and drug-related traffic
fatalities in Northern Virginia has dropped for a third year in a row.
This highly successful partnership between a community group and a local business
is evidence of the effectiveness of gaining the support of businesses when
starting a Designated Driver or Safe Ride program. Developing relationships
with local businesses strengthens the partner's ties to the community and
helps provide longevity, commitment and support.
For more information contact WRAP at (703) 893-0461.
THE RADISSON HOTEL PRINCETON USES SAFE RIDES TO WIN
BIG BUSINESS
The Radisson Hotel in Princeton, New Jersey recognizes that offering their
guests a safe ride home is often a key factor in winning new business. "In
fact, we won a huge 40th birthday bash for our ballroom and the host told
me that the free shuttle service we offered their guest was the deciding factor
in choosing our facility," said a former Director of Catering.
The Radisson Hotel Princeton pays special attention to making sure its guests
are safe. In addition to offering shuttle service as part of catering and
room contracts, they also offer the following:
- All banquets are offered
a round-trip shuttle service at a discounted rate.
- The hotel shuttle
van will pick up and drop off New Year's Eve party-goers within a 10-mile
radius.
- The hotel restaurant has a policy of calling a cab or, if available, offering a ride home in the shuttle van to patrons who live within a 10-mile radius.
TEAM (TECHNIQUES FOR EFFECTIVE ALCOHOL)
Founded in 1985, TEAM
is a broad-based coalition of public and private sector organizations
that include members such as Major League Baseball, National Collegiate Athletic
Association and FOX Sports. TEAM works to ensure guest safety and enjoyment
at public assembly facilities by: promoting responsible alcohol service
and consumption; reducing alcohol-related incidents within the facility
and the occurrence of alcohol-impaired driving after the event. The
centerpiece of TEAM's effort is its highly regarded responsible alcohol
management training program for facility operations and concessionaire
managers.
For more information contact TEAM's Executive Secretariat at 301-272-2463.
