GHSA, Lyft Fund Fall Drunk and Drug-Impaired Driving Prevention Initiatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2024

CONTACT: Adam Snider (GHSA), 202-580-7930, 202-365-8971 (cell)
[email protected] (Lyft)

$40,000 in grants will support two state's public outreach promoting the use of ride-hailing as a safer alternative to driving impaired

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) has again partnered with Lyft to provide financial support for initiatives to promote ride-hailing rather than driving after consuming alcohol and/or other impairing substances. The State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) in Ohio and Maryland each received $20,000 for fall campaigns designed to encourage people to make the responsible decision and leave the driving to someone who is sober.

Impaired driving is dangerous any time of the year, but the rates of drunk driving rise on holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving. Nearly half (46%) of the 72 roadway deaths on Halloween night in 2022 were caused by alcohol-related crashes, according to federal statistics. Meanwhile, the day before Thanksgiving is known as "Blackout Wednesday" or "Drinksgiving" by some people who use it as an opportunity to binge drink. Nationally, drunk driving deaths have skyrocketed 33% in just three years, rising from 10,196 in 2019 to 13,524 in 2022.

Research has repeatedly indicated a correlation between an increase in ride-hailing usage and a decrease in drunk driving. A 2023 study that compared ride-hailing and drunk driving rates in Boston, Worcester and Northampton, Mass., found that DUI arrests decreased by up to 53% following the introduction of ride-hailing services. This finding aligns with previous studies that showed ride-hailing availability was associated with DUI reductions in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, San Diego and San Francisco, among other cities.

"Impaired driving is 100% preventable, and ride-hailing is a key part of the solution," said GHSA Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Adkins. "GHSA and Lyft remain committed to providing an easy alternative to getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or drugs, making our roads safer for everyone."

The GHSA and Lyft grants are enabling Ohio and Maryland to tailor their outreach campaigns to popular events that attract large crowds of people potentially consuming alcohol. The Ohio Traffic Safety Office will encourage people to use ride-hailing and provide credits in conjunction with the HighBall Halloween party event in Columbus that's billed as the nation's largest costume party. A second outreach campaign the week of Thanksgiving will focus on the metropolitan areas of Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration's Highway Safety Office is building upon its "Be The MAKE A PLAN Driver" campaign, promoting discounted rides through social media ads and organic postings. The statewide campaign is a call to action for drivers to plan ahead, so they have a sober ride home. Maryland will make 1,000 ride credits available, valued at $20 each, at varying times across the state.

"Our partnership with the Governors Highway Safety Association helps prevent impaired driving and keep Ohioans and Marylanders safe this fall," said Heather Foster, Head of Global Public Policy at Lyft. "Studies show that Lyft and rideshare are associated with a decrease in impaired driving incidents-in fact, 59% of riders use Lyft to find a rideshare driver when they are planning to drink alcohol or use another substance that could impair driving ability. We believe partnerships like this one-now in its sixth year-can help to save lives and keep our roads safer."

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About GHSA
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy, enhance program management and promote best practices. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Visit ghsa.org for more information or find us on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

About Lyft
Lyft is one of the largest transportation networks in North America, bringing together rideshare, bikes, and scooters all in one app. We are customer-obsessed and driven by our purpose: getting riders out into the world so they can live their lives together, and providing drivers a way to work that gives them control over their time and money.