CLEVELAND — It's officially the week of Thanksgiving — which means it's also the week of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, one of the most popular days of the year for drinking alcohol. That's why the state of Ohio and one Northeast Ohio county are offering programs to keep potential drunk drivers off the roads.
Earlier this week, Summit County announced the return of its "Arrive Alive" program for 2024. The county teamed up with rideshare service Lyft to provide 600 one-time promo codes for a free or cheaper ride home up to $20. Using the code SUMMITGIVING24, Summit County residents can redeem the offer from 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27 to noon on Saturday, Nov. 30.
“I want to make sure people are safe during Thanksgiving. Arrive Alive helps keep impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel," said Elliot Kolkovich, Summit County prosecutor. "Please remember to have a designated driver or use Arrive Alive. The life you save might be your own."
Summit County says more than 4,000 residents have used the Arrive Alive service since 2018.
During last year's Thanksgiving holiday weekend, 13 people were killed in 12 fatal crashes statewide, with nearly half of those crashes involving a driver impaired by alcohol or drugs, the Ohio Traffic Safety Office said.
For those outside Summit County, the OTSO offers a similar deal to residents statewide that's available for a longer time. Funded by a grant from the nonprofit Governors Highway Safety Association, the OTSO's code will be valid beginning Tuesday, Nov. 26 and is expected to last through the weekend during the Ohio State-Michigan football game in Columbus.
“Even a small amount of alcohol can affect someone’s driving ability, that’s why it’s so important to plan a sober ride before you have even one drink,” said Emily Davidson, Executive Director of OTSO. “We are grateful for this opportunity to give Ohioans a safe, affordable alternative to driving under the influence and protect communities from the dangers of drunk driving.”
How to get a $20 Lyft rideshare credit
In Summit County:
- Open Lyft app, click on the icon at the top left of the screen and select "Payment" in the dropdown menu
- Press the + icon labeled "Add Lyft Pass"
- Type in code SUMMITGIVING24
- Available from 6 p.m. on Nov. 27 through noon Nov. 30
Rest of Ohio:
- Beginning on Nov. 25, CLICK HERE or visit otso.ohio.gov/lyft to receive the rideshare credit code. A limited number of credits are available each day
- Open Lyft app, click on the icon at the top left of the screen and select "Payment" in the dropdown menu
- Press the + icon labeled "Add Lyft Pass"
- Type in provided code
- Users have 24 hours to take their ride after adding the code to their Lyft app. Credits will expire within the Lyft app if they are not redeemed within that time period. Unused credits will go back into the system to be claimed again the next day.