‘Your life is more worth it;’ Free rides offered for New Year’s

Extra officers will be on the road looking for drivers under the influence on New Year’s Eve.

People can get free rides to prevent OVI crashes.

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As previously reported by News Center 7, Dayton Police said a drunk driver lost control and hit a restaurant on Saturday.

A driver ran off the road and onto a sidewalk on Brown Street. The vehicle smashed into the front porch railing of Jimmie’s 11.

As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, Montgomery County has a program to prevent crashes like this.

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“That’s definitely a major concern with a lot of drunk drivers out there,” said Jeremy Amoss of Fairborn.

News Center 7′s Mason Fletcher said Jimmie’s 11 stayed open despite the damage.

Amoss said they were lucky it was not worse.

“There’s a lot that could be lost just by someone hitting the building. I mean customers, employees, and people walking by the business,” he said.

Amoss was an Uber driver for four years. He told Fletcher that he saw drunk drivers on the road all the time.

“A lot of people don’t really realize the dangers of it out there. And I think after one or two drinks, they think I’m fine to drive home, but really you’re not,” he said.

Fletcher reports Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck doing something to cut down on drunk driving during the holiday.

“They ring in the new year with alcohol and that’s fine. However, if you’re going to do that, don’t get behind the wheel and drive,” he told News Center 7.

Since 2007, his ArriveSafe program has given out more than 18,000 rides. He hopes to make that number even higher this New Year’s Eve by giving out free $20 Uber vouchers.

“We’re offering a free overrides home from 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 31st, New Year’s Eve until 6 a.m. Thursday, January 2nd,” said Heck.

Amoss told Fletcher he is no longer an Uber driver but may take advantage of the program.

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“Your life is more worth it. And we’re in about maybe a $20 ride getting home.”

Heck shared a post on social media about the ArriveSafe program.

“Don’t drink and drive and remember – buzzed driving is drunk driving. Also, driving while high is illegal as well,” the Facebook post concluded.

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