Auto Dealers tangibly support WRAP Sober Ride for Saint Patricks Day
Area auto dealers were front and center last weekend in support of one of WRAPs twelve hour SoberRide program marking the Feast of St Patrick. With a bona fide Irishman representing WANADA, Kevin Reilly of Alexandria Hyundai was on hand at Murphys Grand Irish Pub, also in Alexandria, for the launching of the St. Patricks Day SoberRide where celebrants of the occasion had the option of a free taxi ride (up to $30) as an alternative to driving under the influence of alcohol. SoberRide taxis were on call from 4:00 pm, Sunday, March 17 through 4:00 am, Monday, March 18 across the area.
The SoberRide program of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, which operates complimentary taxis on major holidays and occasions throughout the year that are associated with parties and the free flow of alcoholic beverages, is credited with keeping 58,000 would be drunk drivers off Washington Area motorways over the years. WANADA, a founding business group with WRAP in the 1980s, is one of nine SoberRide program sponsors, which, besides auto dealers, includes Budweiser, Volkswagen, AT&T, Giant, and the Restaurant Association (RAMW). Along with St. Patricks Day, other SoberRide holidays include the 4th of July, Halloween, and New Years Eve. John ODonnell of WANADA currently chairs the WRAP Board of Directors which has representatives from the aforementioned businesses as well as area police agencies and public and private highway safety advocate groups.
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