Group hopes vouchers will prevent drunk drivers

by Carol Crump
Tuesday, December 2, 2008 2:04 PM MST

For some in Wyoming, there’s a culture that says it’s a right to decide to drink and drive.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and their community partners want to create a new culture -- one that also makes it a right to have a safe holiday, free from drunk drivers.

“There’s a ripple effect” from drunk driving that impacts everyone’s ability to get on the highway and get home safe, said MADD spokesperson Toni Reichenbach.

The 10th year of “You Drink & Drive, You Lose” isn’t against drinking during the holidays.

The goal, which hasn’t changed since the program began in 1999, is zero fatalities due to alcohol-related crashes during the holiday season.

The campaign encourages partiers to have a designated driver, and offers free cab rides home from participating bars and restaurants.

This year, there’s a new service for those who want to take responsibility ahead of time. “You Drink & Drive, You Lose” is selling $10 prepaid cab vouchers to individuals and businesses.

The credit card-like vouchers will guarantee a ride home in an RC Cab or Casper Cab from any bar in the Casper, Mills, Evansville and Bar Nunn areas.

The cab companies are reimbursed for the cost of a ride that exceeds $10, but all rides are discounted as their contribution to the campaign.

“We hope to put responsibility on people,” said Safe Kids Program Coordinator Diane Guerttman.

Safe Kids of Wyoming supports the annual holiday campaign because “most of the children injured or killed are riding in the car with the drunk driver,” she said.

More than 100 cab vouchers were used during last year’s holiday season that ran from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. Each bar or restaurant that sells alcohol -— about 50 -- initially receives three cab vouchers to hand out to its patrons.

More vouchers are available to the businesses as long as funding lasts.

The advantage of the new, prepaid voucher program is having a ride home ahead of time, from any drinking establishment.

Not all bars and restaurants participate in “You Drink & Drive, You Lose,” and some bartenders worry about offending customers. Some drinkers may be reluctant to ask for help to get home.

With a prepaid voucher in a wallet, there’s always a ride home, Reichenbach said.

Guerttman suggested that a prepaid voucher could be a “gift of love” from a mother to a 21-year-old or a house guest, a gift to employees before the company holiday party or a paycheck insert with the company logo on the back.

Vouchers are for sale at Metro Coffee Co., Wyoming Medical Center or by calling 577-2535. The $10 vouchers are valid until the end of March.

How to report a drunk driver

Within the city or town limits of Casper, Mills, Evansville and Bar Nunn, call 911.

On the highway or interstate, call the Wyoming Highway Patrol at 1-800-442-9090.

Being able to provide a license number, vehicle description, such as color or make, and location will help law enforcement get the driver off the street more quickly.

Partners in “You Drink & Drive, You Lose”

MADD

Brain Injury Association

Casper College

Mills Police Department

Casper Fire Department

Natrona County Sheriff’s Department

Casper Police Department

Safe Kids of Central Wyoming

City of Casper

Wyoming Department of Transportation

Evansville Police Department

Wyoming Highway Patrol

Wyoming Medical Center Foundation

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