Auto Club Rings in 2001 With Free Tipsy Tow Service On New Year's Eve
29 December 2000
Auto Club Rings in 2001 With Free Tipsy Tow Service On New Year's Eve
LOS ANGELES--Dec. 28, 2000--To help keep New Year's Eve safe for all motorists, the Automobile Club of Southern California is offering 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 1-800-400-4AAA 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.
"Drivers who drink contribute to three traffic-related deaths each day and an injury every 17 minutes in California," said Arline Dillman, Ph.D., the Auto Club's traffic safety expert. "Over the past five years, a statewide average of 139 people have been killed or injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes each day during the New Year's holiday. Based on recent years, we estimate that 400 to 500 people statewide will be killed or injured in alcohol-related crashes this year during the New Year's holiday weekend."
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 only takes a drink or two to slow physical and mental skills and affect vision, steering, braking, judgement and reaction time," explained Dillman. "As a result, more than 190,200 Californians were arrested for driving under the influence in 1999, which translates into one person every 2.8 minutes. We'd like to reduce that number and make roads and highways safer for motorists."
Dillman added that 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 and 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 Conviction 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 others 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.
