Preparing to combat that time of year when, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 40 percent of all U.S. traffic deaths involve drunk drivers, free Independence Day Lyft rides will be offered to deter impaired driving throughout the Washington-metropolitan area beginning Wednesday, July 4.

Offered by the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), the 2018 Independence Day SoberRide program will be in operation beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4 (Independence Day) and continue until 4 a.m. on Thursday, July 5, as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk holiday.

During this nine-hour period, area residents age 21 and older celebrating with alcohol may download Lyft to their phones, then enter a SoberRide code in the app's “Promo” section to receive their no cost (up to $15) safe transportation home. WRAP’s July 4 SoberRide promo code will be posted at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4 on www.SoberRide.com.

Last year, 513 persons in the Washington-metropolitan area used WRAP’s Independence Day SoberRide program rather than possibly driving home impaired. The charity also offers its SoberRide program on St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Halloween and the winter holidays.

Last year, WRAP announced a partnership with the ridesharing service Lyft to provide WRAP’s SoberRide service in the Washington-metropolitan area. SoberRide, the free safe ride service to prevent drunk driving, is now solely available via the Lyft mobile app ridesharing platform.

“Over 40 percent of all U.S. traffic fatalities during the Independence Day holiday in 2016 involved drunk drivers according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” said Kurt Gregory Erickson, WRAP’s president. “Worse, two-thirds of those killed in drunk driving crashes during the 2016 Independence Day period had BACs of .15 or higher.”

Since 1991, WRAP’s SoberRide program has provided 72,377 free safe rides home to would-be drunk drivers in the Greater Washington area.

More information about WRAP’s SoberRide initiative can be found at www.SoberRide.com.