Dial-A-Ride 2000-2001

by Jean Scott

Once again, the Dial-A-Ride (DAR) efforts to reduce the number of drinking drivers on our roads on holiday nights has succeeded! Begun in 1986, this program provides free taxi services within Oak Ridge city limits to those who may be too inebriated to drive. The free rides are available between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. and are provided by the Yellow Cab Company of Oak Ridge. An average of 40% of the 60-80 calls for cabs each season are for free rides. The “season” refers to the celebratory nights of Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and Super Bowl Sunday, with New Year’s Eve having the lion’s share of free rides. This year, for the first time, the Knoxville Police Department, in cooperation with seven cab companies, provided a similar service for Knoxville.

This year marked only the fourth DUI arrest since the DAR program began, but this citation was to an out-of-town driver who was not eligible for a free ride.

DAR would not have been possible without the sponsorship and cooperation of the following: Methodist Medical Center provided 10,000 flyers which were distributed to markets, liquor stores, restaurants and bars. They were posted and given to customers prior to the holidays; The Turning Point Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse contributed $100 towards the cost of the cab drivers; Stan Morgan of the Yellow Cab Co. provided the cabs while RID paid the balance of the driver costs; The Oak Ridger contributed publicity, including an editorial, a large display ad, and a feature article; and The Knoxville News Sentinel (Anderson County section) printed a news article.

The DAR program has been, and will continue to be, one of the most important community efforts RID undertakes. Although no statistics exist to show lives saved and injuries prevented, RID believes the number would be considerable. Thanks to all who help make the DAR program a success!