Preparing to combat that time of year when, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half (44 percent) of all U.S. traffic deaths involve drunk drivers, free Halloween Lyft rides will be offered to deter impaired driving throughout the Washington-metropolitan area beginning Saturday, Oct. 27.

Offered by the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), the 2018 Halloween SoberRide program will be in operation beginning at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 and continue until 4 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28, as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk holiday.

During this six-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 Halloween SoberRide promo code will be posted at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 on www.SoberRide.com.

Last year, a record 715 persons in the Washington-metropolitan area used WRAP’s Halloween SoberRide program rather than possibly driving home impaired. The charity also offers its SoberRide program on St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Independence Day, 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.

“Nearly half (44 percent) of all U.S. traffic fatalities during Halloween involve drunk drivers according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” said Kurt Gregory Erickson, WRAP’s president.

SoberRide is offered throughout Lyft’s Washington, D.C. coverage area which includes all or parts of: the District of Columbia; the Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince George’s; and the Northern Virginia counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William.

Since 1991, WRAP’s SoberRide program has provided 73,123 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.