Free New Year’s taxi rides replaced by awareness programs

FROM IDS REPORTS

Monroe County has tried to tackle the problem of drunken driving on New Year’s Eve for decades, but now officials are changing tack.

Until recently, Monroe County offered free or significantly reduced-cost taxi rides on New Year’s Eve to cut down on drunken driving fatalities.

Community officials have suggested simply providing rides is not effective.

Instead, they hope to educate the public and spread awareness of the dangers of drunken driving through a campaign called “Get a Ride, Call a Taxi, Take the Bus, Just Don’t Drink and Drive.”

As a result, no free or reduced fare taxi rides were provided this New Year’s Eve or the last.

The free ride program has been replaced entirely by the “Get a Ride” project.

Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Gaal organized the campaign in August 2007.

He said he hopes to educate local people and IU students about the risks of drunken driving and its alternatives, according to a local government news release.

Former IU Dean of Students Richard McKaig supported the campaign project as a complement to IU’s initiation of AlcoholEdu, a three-hour alcohol education course which every incoming freshman was required to take before classes began, according to a news release.

AlcoholEdu was replaced with the My Student Body program in July 2013.

Though the campaign supports taking buses, the Bloomington Transit buses stopped running in the early evening on New Year’s Eve and did not run on New Year’s Day.

Police Capt. Joe Qualters said there are other viable options for getting home safely after drinking.

“Cab fare is still cheaper than bonding out of jail, court costs, attorney fees, increased insurance premiums, towing/storage fees for your car and all of the other costs associated with being arrested for drunk driving,” Qualters said in an email.

“Killing or injuring someone in the process brings its own set of issues that can be life-changing for more people than just you as the driver.”

— Kate Starr