Any time you go out drinking, you need to plan ahead and find a sober designated driver to take you home. The best options are to designate a friend to pick you up or choose someone to go out with you so they don’t drink, so your car doesn’t get stuck. For many of us, we don’t plan ahead for a safe trip. If you find yourself with no way home at the end of the night, there are several designated driving services you can choose from. Most of these are paid and some may be free, depending on location and timing.
Advantages of designated driving services
When the night is over and you find yourself drunk and with no way home, don’t get behind the wheel and drive. There are many services to choose from that will get you home safely. Most driving services cost money, but it will cost much less than getting charged for DUI. Do some research to find out which option is best for you based on a few factors.
There are many companies throughout the year that offer this type of service. Each one works in a different way, like getting picked up in your car and taken home. In this case, you will need to drop off the car you drove and pick it up another day. Some services drive your car home for you and some may even leave someone to drive your car and follow you both home. There can be several rules, depending on where you are, what time of day it is, and what time of year it is. Many states have state-specific services and rides may even be free if it’s a holiday.
Free driving services and limitations
Most driving services cost money, but there are some that offer free rides on holidays like New Year’s Eve. Companies do this to reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road, since most people go out drinking on vacation nights. There are even some nonprofit companies that offer free designated driving services all the time, depending on the state. One company that offers free towing services with limitations is AAA Tipsy Towing. However, this is not currently offered in the state of Colorado.
In Colorado, the only free services currently offered are on holidays. Local public transportation called RTD offers free bus or light rail rides in certain areas and between certain times. There are some law firms that can reimburse you for taking a paid service, such as a taxi, up to a certain amount. There are also other programs in the mountains called the Free Ride Transit System. From time to time, some police departments will come up with promotional campaign ideas for free rides in order to reduce the number of drunk driving accidents. Do some research in your area and when you find a free shuttle, don’t forget to tip the driver!
Options for paid driving services
There are several services that can be used as a safe trip to avoid the risk of a charge for driving under the influence. If it’s not a holiday and no free options are available to you, some of the more obvious paid services include calling a taxi or public transportation such as buses and light rail. Public transportation can be a good option because, most of the time, you can park your car in a free parking lot before getting on a certain spot. Even though these are payments, they will be much cheaper than paying for a DUI! However, you may have to leave your car behind if you were driving, so designate your own sober driver if you can to avoid parking tickets or having your car towed.
Locally in Colorado, there are designated driving services that many of us have heard of. The most popular include Uber and Lyft. These services can be called to have a driver come pick you up and take you home in your own personal car, rather than a car marked as a taxi. These services can be cheaper depending on the time of day. Please note that Uber and Lyft may offer discounted rides, up to a certain amount, or a free ride the first time you use them. Both services will also give out free rides on holidays using a special code, so look online. Another paid service you may not have heard of is called Denver Roadies. It is strictly centrally located and the driver brings his own folding scooter to place in your trunk while he drives you home and then off to his next destination after dropping off.