The holidays are a time to spend with friends and family and enjoy the end of the year without having to worry about how to get from celebration to celebration. This month will be the busiest holiday travel on record, with millions expected to be on the roads traveling to see loved ones. 

In 2018, one person was killed by a drunk driver every 50 minutes in the United States. This risk is particularly high during the month of December, which serves as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that 40% of traffic-related deaths during Christmas and New Year’s involve drunk drivers — a 12% increase over the rest of the month of December.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Uber are teaming up to remind you to not get behind the wheel after drinking when there are a million reasons to ride. Whether you choose to take public transportation, request a ride using Uber, or find a designated driver, there is always an alternative to drinking and driving. 

“We want everyone to get home for the holidays,” said MADD National President Helen Witty. “It’s very simple: if you drink, don’t drive. If you drive, don’t drink. Plan ahead for a non-drinking, sober driver every time you go out, and never get into a car with someone who is impaired by alcohol or other drugs.” 

To help raise awareness around this issue, we are highlighting our ongoing safety awareness campaign, Reason to Ride, in collaboration with our long-time partner, MADD.

In addition, we are also partnering with law enforcement associations to help distribute safety toolkits that aim to educate the public on how easy it is to find a ride home. Uber is also distributing MADD’s “tie one on for safety” ribbons to drivers at GreenLight Hubs across ten U.S. cities. 

We can all do our part in spreading awareness and encouraging friends and family that there is never a reason to get behind the wheel after drinking when there are a million reasons to ride. To learn more about Uber and MADD’s partnership, go here.