From AAA
As Cinco de Mayo approaches on Saturday, AAA encourages those who plan to be on the road traveling to and from festivities to make preparations ahead of time for getting home safely. Whether it’s using a designated driver, taxi or rideshare service, having a plan helps ensure celebrations don’t turn deadly.
Cinco de Mayo — a holiday that began as a day to commemorate Mexico’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 — has become a popular celebration day in the U.S. However, some partygoers celebrate the festivities with alcohol, increasing the risk for impaired driving.
From 2012-2016, nearly one-third (28%) of fatal traffic crashes during the Cinco de Mayo holiday period were alcohol-related, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
“The impact of alcohol extends much farther than just the person behind the wheel,” said Amy Stracke, managing director of traffic safety advocacy for AAA — The Auto Club Group and executive director of the Auto Club Group Traffic Safety Foundation. “With Cinco de Mayo falling on a weekend, we expect more people on the roads, and we urge everyone to plan ahead to avoid putting themselves and others in harm’s way.”
Now in its 20th year, the Tow to Go program – a partnership between AAA and Budweiser – will be available Friday, May 4th through 6 am on Sunday, May 6th to offer free rides for anyone needing to get home safely. Tow to Go has provided safe rides to more than 25,000 impaired drivers across the Southeast and the Midwest since 1998.
“The Tow to Go program is an effective way to promote the use of designated drivers and help prevent impaired driving,” said Katja Zastrow, vice president of corporate social responsibility for Anheuser-Busch. “We are proud to partner with AAA and their roadside assistance drivers to help keep our roads safe.”
The following guidelines apply to the Tow to Go program:
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