Litchfield residents for the first time will have the option to be chauffeured home after having too much to drink at Watercade festivities.
The Meeker County Toward Zero Deaths Safe Roads Coalition is piloting its JOYRIDE program, where buses will drive people home who have had too much to drink at no cost.
The program will run 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday, July 9, during Watercade’s street dance. Riders will be picked up every 15 minutes at several locations in Litchfield including, Fraternal Order of the Eagles, American Legion, VFW and Kickers. Riders will be dropped off at any location within a 10-mile radius of Litchfield.
“We’re coming together to protect our people and provide them with options,” said Catherine Birr, who is a committee member of the Meeker County Toward Zero Deaths Safe Roads Coalition, whose purpose is to lower the number of car accident deaths each year.
In Minnesota there are more than 25,000 drivers arrested for driving with intoxicated each year, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
“Our goal is to have less than 300 people die on the roads by 2020,” coalition member Jesse Hudec said. “In a perfect world we’d have zero deaths and zero significant injuries.”
Over the past five years, more than 400 people have died in drunk driving-related accidents, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
“We’re on pace to have a lot less (deaths) than last year,” Hudec added. “We’re continuing the downward trend.”
For the past three years, Meeker County has also been ranked among the 25 most dangerous counties for drunk driving.
Last year, Meeker ranked No. 25 on the list, according to Minnesota Department Public Safety.
“From the Sheriff’s Office perspective, the JOYRIDE program is a great opportunity to get everybody involved to get a free ride home. Not only are they safe, but every else (on the road) is safe,” Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze said.
“These are sad, tragic and preventable deaths,” Cruze added. “And the fact is, if you’re driving drunk, it’s much better news if you’re stopped and arrested for DWI than causing a preventable tragedy.”
The coalition has embraced this message and incorporated into their slogan of, “Good times delivered. Get a free ride home today, or a fee.”
“We’re hoping to roll (this program) out to other communities in Meeker County to use at their festivities in the future,” Hudec said.
Copyright 2016 Litchfield Independent Review/Crow River Media/Media News Group.