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Published on Wednesday, November 27, 2002
in the Tallahassee Democrat
From now until New Year's Day, you can get a free cab ride or a free tow if you've had too much to drink.
The holiday season is in full swing, so local businesses are offering party-goers a safe alternative to driving drunk. If you can't designate a driver, Yellow Cab will offer free rides from 8 p.m. until 3 a.m. until Jan. 1 from any bar or restaurant that sells Budweiser products. AAA is offering free towing service from any bar or restaurant or house party until Jan. 1. The service is not limited to AAA members.
Tri-Eagle Sales will share the cost of the cab rides and tows with Yellow Cab and AAA, said Susie Busch Transou, vice president of community relations for Tri-Eagle.
"It is a simple decision to tell your bartender or server to call Yellow Cab," said Mayor Scott Maddox, who showed up to promote the initiative.
Maddox presented Yellow Cab with a proclamation from the City Commission announcing Nov. 17-23 "Yellow Cab Designated Driver Appreciation Week."
Drunken driving has decreased in Florida, Florida Highway Patrol statistics show. In 1989, drunken drivers caused 49 percent of 3,000 traffic fatalities. That number decreased to 34 percent last year, said Ken Howes, chief of public affairs at the FHP. He credited state and local law enforcement, as well as "public-private" partnerships.
But the problem of drunken driving persists. Law enforcement arrested 850 inebriated drivers in Leon County last year. Almost 60,000 drunken drivers throughout the state were arrested last year, Howes said.
Yellow Cab has been providing free rides during the holiday season for about seven years, said Floyd Webb of the cab company. AAA gave 901 free tows last year, said Brenda Smith, assistant division manager for the agency's Tallahassee office.
Smith said AAA doesn't verify to make sure the calls for towing are legitimate. "We take people at their word," she said. "If people call, no questions are asked."
FREE RIDE
Until Jan. 1, if you are at a bar or restaurant that serves Budweiser and you can't drive home, you can receive a free cab ride from Yellow Cab. Just ask your bartender or server. If you need a free tow, call 1-800-AAA-HELP.