Programs give free rides to celebrate New Year's safely

Local efforts continue this holiday season to help ensure people get home safely from New Year’s celebrations.

Gusto Distributors and Havre Distributors have teamed up with the Hill County DUI Task Force and Havre’s Town Taxi to provide coupons for rides home from taverns, the Hi-Line Tavern Association is continuing to support designated drivers and Havre Ford is continuing its sponsorship of free rides for people celebrating New Year’s Eve.

Tom Farnham, president of the Hi-Line Tavern Association, said this is about the third year the association has worked with the coupon program, with Town Taxi giving a special rate for the holiday season in a coupon program that runs year round.

“The bottom line is to make sure we get everybody home safe, sound and responsibly,” Farnham said.

People can ask their their bartenders for a coupon, and Farnham said if a group needs a ride, the taxi will charge $1 each for the additional passengers.

He said the designated driver program used by the tavern association is about five years old.

In that program, people who sign up with the tavern association to be designated drivers for their groups and not drink any alcohol, along with receiving free coffee or pop, have their names entered into a drawing. Each month, the tavern association gives two $50 prizes to designated drivers and, at its annual meeting, draws from all the names entered to award a $500 prize.

Steve Steinmetz, general manager of Havre Ford, said the free rides it provides started about 10 or 12 years ago when the automobile dealership partnered with the HELP — Havre Encourages Long Range Prevention — Committee.

Havre Ford employees and other volunteers provide rides for people from the late afternoon of New Year’s Eve to the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Steinmetz said the program provides about 300 rides each New Year’s. The rides are free of charge.

People can call for a ride at 265-1700.