AAA’s Tow to Go surely makes St. Paddy proud

There’s a significant uptick in drunk driving around St. Patrick’s Day every year. Is it a surprise? No. Is it sobering, yes. Fortunately, there’s a way to help keep folks off the road.

In my previous life, I worked in marketing for AAA. It was a great job, but it kept some pretty dire statistics at the top of my mind. For example, collision numbers spike due to “drowsy driving” after the switch to Daylight Saving Time. I think we all felt that this week.

Another unfortunate stat is the significant uptick in drunk driving around St. Patrick’s Day. Is it a surprise? No. Is it sobering, yes. Fortunately, they have a way to help keep folks off the road.

AAA Tow to Go

AAA is activating ‘Tow to Go’ for the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day weekend in hopes that partygoers do not press their luck by driving impaired.

How does it work? When someone calls Tow to Go, AAA dispatches a tow truck to transport the would-be impaired driver and their vehicle to a safe location within a 10-mile radius. Since its inception, this life-saving program has removed more than 30,000 impaired drivers from the road. The service is free for anyone, yet AAA asks that it be treated as a last resort.

Tow to Go is available in FL, GA, IA, MI, ND, NE, TN, WI, CO (Denver), NC (Charlotte), IN (Fort Wayne/South Bend). Just call (855) 2-TOW-2-GO.

We’re proud to be that last line of defense, keeping people from driving impaired. We also remain committed to educating the public that it’s important to find a safe ride before drinking alcohol or taking drugs. This is critical so motorists are not in the position of having to decide if they’re sober enough to drive.

Tiffany Wright, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group in the Carolinas

GUIDELINES

• Provided from 6 p.m. Friday, March 15^th to 6 a.m. Monday, March 18^th.
• Free and available to AAA members and non-members.
• Confidential local ride for one person and their vehicle to a safe location within a 10-mile radius.
• Appointments cannot be scheduled in advance to use Tow to Go. It is designed as a safety net for those who didn’t plan ahead. Always choose a designated driver before celebrating.
• In some situations, AAA may need to make other arrangements to get an impaired individual a safe ride home.
• Tow to Go may not be available in rural areas or during severe weather conditions.