New “SaferRide” Mobile App and New Data Highlight Start of Annual Holiday Drunk Driving Crackdown
New data shows that drunk driving deaths declined by 2.5 percent in 2013.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and NHTSA Deputy Administrator David Friedman have unveiled a new mobile app to help people who have been drinking get a safe ride home. They also announced new data revealing a decline in drunk driving deaths in 2013.
NHTSA's new SaferRide app will help keep drunk drivers off of roads by allowing users to call a taxi or a friend and by identifying their location so they can be picked up. The app is available on Google Play.
"We're making progress in the fight against drunk driving by working with law enforcement and our safety partners, and by arming people with useful tools, such as our new SaferRide app," said Friedman. "This holiday season, don't make the selfish and deadly choice to drink and drive."
The new data shows that drunk driving deaths declined by 2.5 percent in 2013. Even with this decrease, 10,076 people died in crashes involving a drunk driver in 2013.
"We will continue to be relentless in our effort to curb drunk driving because each life is precious," Foxx said. "Too many lives are still being cut far too short because of drunk driving. We can stop these tragedies by making the decision not to allow ourselves or our loved ones to get behind the wheel after drinking."