The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) has handed out grants to support initiatives that promote the use of ride-hailing rather than driving this holiday season.
In partnership with Lyft and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, the GHSA has awarded the Colorado, Maryland, Missouri and Texas State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) a total of $80,000 in grant funds.
The four states will provide Lyft ride credits to encourage people who drink alcohol or other impairing substances to make the safer choice and leave the driving to someone who is sober.
The holiday season is considered one of the most dangerous times on the road due to revelers consuming alcohol or other impairing substances and then getting behind the wheel. The GSA said the risk had increased even more over the past few years.
Police-reported, alcohol-involved fatalities rose five per cent in 2021 and remain higher than the pre-pandemic level in 2019, according to preliminary figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“All traffic fatalities are tragic,” said GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins. “But it is especially difficult to hear about drunk- and drug-impaired driving deaths, which we know are 100 per cent preventable, during the holiday season.
“GHSA is thrilled to team up with two of our long-time partners – Lyft and Responsibility.org – to help states conduct innovative campaigns that not only highlight the danger of driving impaired but also offer drivers an incentive for making the responsible choice.”
