This New Year’s Eve and throughout 2016, we’re teaming up with rideshare company Lyft and with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to curb drunk driving. This exciting partnership is part of our Vision Zero plan to end traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
We know that on average, 30 to 50 percent of traffic fatalities every year are impairment-related. They’re most often concentrated on Saturday and Sunday late nights, and around holidays and special events where people are imbibing. New Year’s Eve definitely fits in, as one of the biggest drinking nights of the year.
Unfortunately, most years start off with a crash involving an impaired driver. But that doesn’t have to be the case. With so many travel options at our fingertips these days, we can make better, safer choices.
And that’s where our new partnership with Lyft and MADD comes in.
Starting today (December 30) and throughout 2016, Lyft is offering discounts to riders in the city’s busiest nightlife neighborhoods. This includes Capitol Hill, Belltown, Pioneer Square, South Lake Union, University District, Ballard, and Fremont.
Not only are these the places with the most nightlife venues, they’re also the places where we see higher frequencies of impairment-related crashes.
With our data and with Lyft’s technology, we can pinpoint the areas and times of days where these types of crashes are happening.
And that’s a really good thing for Seattle’s street safety.
So, what’s the discount?
If you’re planning to go out in any of these areas, you can sign up for $10 off each of 5 rides, from 5 PM to 3 AM. Head to www.lyft.com/invited/SafeSeattle to redeem the discount. And tell your friends. It’s open to new and existing Lyft riders.
Moving forward in 2016, we’ll work to expand this partnership with other transportation companies so we can continue to offer safe choices are work toward our Vision Zero goal.
No matter how you’re planning to celebrate for New Years, plan ahead. Take a cab or rideshare, carpool with a sober friend, take transit, or if you drove and had too much to drink, purchase pre-paid parking for the next morning.
Let’s start off 2016 safely. Happy New Year!
Learn more about the partnership at www.seattle.gov/visionzero/partnerships-and-promotions.