A new program will offer free rides to patrons of local bars in an effort to deter drunk driving

(From left) Tri-County Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Steve Deck, Harrisburg Deputy Police Chief Kenneth Young and Commute PA Executive Director Matt Boyer at the “Sober Ride Home” press conference.

A local organization offers to be the designated driver for nighttime outings downtown.

The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (TCRPC) announced at a press conference Tuesday the launch of its “Sober Ride Home” pilot program, which aims to reduce drunk driving incidents by offering free rideshare vouchers to those who consume alcohol at local bars and restaurants.

“In our region, approximately 40 per cent of fatal crashes and 30 per cent of serious injury crashes involve impaired drivers,” said Steve Deck, TCRPC executive director. “The majority of these crashes occur between Thursday and Saturday.”

Rideshare vouchers will be available on weekends via QR codes placed at bars and restaurants, and the code will direct users to the Uber app where the ride will be free. The maximum cost is $40, which Deck said covers roughly the distance from Harrisburg to Hershey. Vouchers will be offered in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties. To start, users can’t exceed one voucher per day.

The trial phase of the program is expected to begin before Labor Day and last for a year, with the broader goal of implementing a permanent system in the future.

“People have tried these kinds of things before and struggled to sustain them over the long term,” Deck said. “That’s really one of the lessons we hope to learn from this process, whether it’s public-private partnerships or a variety of other things: How do you make a program like this sustainable?”

Planning for the project involved efforts from TCRPC, the Harrisburg Area Transportation Study (HATS), the traffic reduction nonprofit Commute PA, and a grant of approximately $300,000 from the Federal Highway Administration’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program. The grant will cover all operating costs, including vouchers.

The Harrisburg Police Department also supports the program, according to Deputy Chief Kenneth Young.

“This proposal is a great idea,” Young said. “I’ve worked in the traffic unit for 15 of my 24 years here, investigating fatal accidents and minor accidents. We welcome anything we can do to reduce those numbers.”

To start, Deck said they plan to do outreach, such as tables, signs in bars and restaurants and possibly online advertising. Commute PA Executive Director Matt Boyer encouraged any interested restaurants or establishments that serve alcohol and are interested in the program to contact the TCRPC.

“I look forward to making a positive impact on the Harrisburg area through this program,” Boyer said.

For more information, visit the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission website.

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