NDDOT Awarded Grant to Fight Impaired Driving
For Immediate Release: Nov 08 2018
Lyft Ride Sharing Service Providing Discount Vouchers
Bismarck, ND- The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) is pleased to announce it has received grant funds through the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA) through a partnership with Lyft, a ride-hailing service available statewide in North Dakota, to offer $10 off vouchers to Lyft users in North Dakota.
Beginning December 14 to December 31 the first 1,000 Lyft users who ride from 5pm to 2am, each day, can use a code to get $10 off their ride. The code will be given through social and digital media campaigns, as well as through the Vision Zero website mid-December. The code can only be used once per ride, but there is no limit on the number of times a person can use the code from December 14 to December 31. The Lyft app is available in your smart phone’s app store.
This is the first year of a state grant program funded by Lyft and administered by GHSA providing a combination of cash grants and ride credits that can be used towards discounts on Lyft fares. The goal of the program is to encourage all road users to use a ride-hailing service to travel when they are impaired, rather than putting themselves or others at risk. North Dakota was one of five states selected to receive this grant. Other states include California, Illinois, Louisiana, and Washington.
“Arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) are 100 percent preventable by drivers taking personal responsibility to drive sober or plan for a sober ride,” says NDDOT Safety Division Director Karin Mongeon. “The availability of this voucher makes it easy for people to access a sober ride to reach their destination safely and assists us to move toward the Vision Zero goal of zero motor vehicle fatalities and serious injuries on North Dakota roads.”
In North Dakota in 2017, approximately 1 in 6 adult arrests were for DUI and about 50% of motor vehicle fatalities were alcohol-related.
“The holidays should be a time of celebration, but far too many families instead have to face the loss of a loved one due to impaired road use,” said GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins. “Ride-hailing services are an easy alternative to impaired driving and we are excited to partner with Lyft on this effort to provide resources that will help ensure the safety of all road users.”
Visit the North Dakota Crash Memorial wall to view memorials built on the hope of preventing another death on North Dakota roads.
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