Auto Club Rings in 2003 With Free Tipsy Tow Service On New Year's Eve
LOS ANGELES--Dec. 26, 2002--To help keep New Year's Eve safe for all motorists, the Automobile Club of Southern California offers free Tipsy Tow rides home for drinking drivers and their vehicles.Between 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve and 6 a.m. on New Year's Day, motorists, bartenders, restaurant managers, party hosts or passengers of a drinking driver in the 13 Southern California counties the Auto Club serves may call 800/400-4AAA for a free tow home of up to seven miles.
Callers simply tell the Auto Club operator, "I need a Tipsy Tow," to receive the free tow and ride home. A regular Auto Club-contracted emergency road service truck will be dispatched.
Callers need to keep in mind that the service excludes rides for passengers, is restricted to a one-way, one-time ride for the driver and the destination is limited to the driver's residence. Reservations are not accepted. Drivers can expect to pay the rate charged by the tow truck contractor for rides farther than seven miles.
"Alcohol consumption contributes to four traffic-related deaths each day and an injury every 17 minutes in California," said Arline Dillman, traffic safety manager of the Automobile Club of Southern California.
"Over the past five years, a statewide average of 130 people have been killed or injured in alcohol-related crashes each day during the New Year's holiday period. Based on recent years, we estimate that 150 to 175 people statewide will be killed or injured in alcohol-related crashes this year during the New Year's holiday period."
Drinking drivers frequently don't plan for other ways to get home because they are concerned about retrieving their vehicle. They cite the expense of taxis and time inconvenience as the major reasons they don't use alternative transportation, explained Dillman. Tipsy Tow provides motorists with a safe ride home instead of driving while intoxicated.
"People may think they know how much to drink and still stay in control, but it takes only a drink or two to slow physical and mental skills and affect vision, steering, braking, judgment and reaction," Dillman said.
"As a result, about 184,000 Californians were arrested for driving under the influence in 2000 which translates to one person every 2.9 minutes. We'd like to reduce that number and make roads and highways safer for motorists."
People convicted of driving under the influence can lose many of the most important things in their lives such as family, job, dignity and money. The Auto Club estimates that a first-time DUI conviction can cost about $11,000 in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees and insurance costs.
Current laws, enforcement, public awareness and education efforts by public service-oriented organizations, including the Auto Club, have contributed to the decline in the number of alcohol-related fatalities and injuries for the past 10 years. The Auto Club provides the Tipsy Tow service and free publications as part of its "You Drink. You Drive. You Lose." public awareness campaign.
Publications available to the public at Auto Club offices throughout Southern California include:
| -- | Estimated costs for First Misdemeanor DUI Convictions for California. |
| -- | None for the Road: A Guide to California's DUI Laws. |
| -- | Host a Holiday Party Your Friends Will Love and Live to Tell About (includes recipes for alcohol-free drinks). |
The Auto Club advises that motorists can keep themselves and other safe and can avoid DUI arrests by keeping these driving safety tips in mind:
-- At social events, designate a non-drinking driver who can get
everyone home safely.
-- Call a friend or family member for a ride if you've been
drinking.
-- Keep a cab company telephone number in your wallet so you can
call for a ride home.
-- As a party host, offer a variety of non-alcoholic drink
alternatives and provide a gift to guests who volunteer to be
designated drivers.
-- Take the car keys away from friends and relatives who have had
too much to drink.
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest AAA affiliate, has been serving members since 1900. Today, Auto Club members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance, financial products, travel agency and trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance products and services and automotive pricing, buying and financing programs.
Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.
