Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France. It is also a holiday that typically involves the consumption of alcohol. The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) offers people in the D.C. area a free ride home through the ride share app Lyft, with the goal of keeping impaired drivers off the roads.
“Over a third of U.S. traffic fatalities during Cinco de Mayo involve drunk drivers according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” said Kurt Erickson, WRAP’s president in a news release.
The 2024 Cinco de Mayo Sober Ride program will be in operation Sunday, May 5th, as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditional high-risk period.
Area residents ages 21 and older celebrating with alcohol may download the Lyft app to their phones, then enter the Sober Ride code in the app’s ‘Payment’ tab (under the ‘Add Lyft Pass’ option) to receive their no-cost (up to $15) safe transportation home. On Sunday, May 5th, www.SoberRide.com will post the promo code at 11 a.m.
Over a third of U.S. traffic deaths on Cinco de Mayo involve drunk drivers (34%, @NHTSAgov, 2022). 🎊 #SoberRide #VivaSafety https://t.co/6cAYMRtXzy pic.twitter.com/yMrNnfU2QQ
— WRAP.org (@WRAP_org) May 1, 2024
WRAP works to reduce impaired driving on holidays when drinking alcohol is part of the celebration, including St. Patrick’s Day, Independence Day, Halloween and the winter holidays.
Since 1991, WRAP’s Sober Ride program has provided 89,725 free safe rides home to would-be drunk drivers in the D.C. area.
