With more than 102 million people expected to travel by automobile this holiday season – the most on record since AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2001 – AAA is reminding motorists to celebrate safely and take steps ahead of time to avoid getting behind the wheel impaired.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is one of the deadliest times on the road when it comes to impaired driving.
A 2017 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that among drivers who reported consuming alcohol, 20.7 percent reported driving in the past year when they thought they had consumed too much to drive safely.
“With millions of Americans expected to be on the roadways this holiday season, we encourage everyone to plan ahead for safe celebrations,” said Amy Stracke, managing director of traffic safety advocacy for AAA – The Auto Club Group, and executive director of the Auto Club Group Traffic Safety Foundation. “Before getting behind the wheel impaired, we want to remind people that the Tow to Go program is available over the holidays.”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Tow to Go program, a partnership that began in 1998 between AAA and Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser) to prevent impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel. Over the past 20 years, the Tow to Go program has taken over 25,000 impaired drivers off the roadways.
“The Tow to Go program is a smart option to promote the use of designated drivers and help reduce impaired driving,” said Adam Warrington, vice president, corporate social responsibility at Anheuser-Busch. “We are proud to partner with AAA and their roadside assistance drivers to make our roadways safer during the holidays.”
The Tow to Go program will be available this holiday season starting Friday, December 21st through 6 am on Wednesday, January 2nd in the following areas:
Tow To Go Service Areas
Phone Number
Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, Nebraska, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Indiana (Fort Wayne and South Bend only)
(855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246
Confidential local ride to a safe location within 10 miles
The AAA tow truck takes the vehicle and the driver home
Free and available to AAA members and non-members
Tow to Go may not be available in rural areas or during severe weather conditions
Visit AAA.com/TowtoGo for dates and availability throughout 2018
If you are hosting a party, please do so responsibly. Check out the Great Pretenders Party Guide from the Auto Club Group Traffic Safety Foundation to learn more.
No family should have to experience a needless tragedy during the holidays as a result of an impaired driver,” said Stephanie Milani, Tennessee Public Affairs Director for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Whether you call Tow to Go, use a designated driver or stay where you are celebrating, it’s critical to have a plan for getting home safely and never get behind the wheel impaired.”