How Georgians Can Get A Free Ride, Car Towed On New Year's Eve

GEORGIA — Before going to your New Year's Eve party, be sure to plan ahead if you'll be partaking in drinking and know how you're going to get home without getting behind the wheel.

In Georgia, AAA Southeast offers members and non-members a way to get both them and their car home.

AAA recommends designating a sober driver, calling a cab or arranging to stay with a friend before kicking off your holiday celebrations. Many AAA clubs offer safe ride services for members and non-members.

The Holiday Tow-to-Go Program is available in Georgia, and ends at 6 a.m. Jan. 2, 2020. For more information, call 855-2-TOW-2-GO or 855-286-9246.

Since 1998, Tow to Go has safely removed more than 25,000 impaired drivers from roads across the Southeast and the Midwest. Through its Auto Club Group Traffic Safety Foundation and Budweiser, AAA provides this program to prevent impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel and risking the lives of other motorists. Tow to Go also enables AAA and Budweiser to remind the public to always plan ahead when celebrating with alcohol. That means choosing a designated driver, staying where you are celebrating, or arranging for another form of safe transportation.

• Free confidential ride available to AAA Members and non-members
• The AAA tow truck transports the vehicle and driver home or somewhere safe within 10 miles
• Tow to Go provided in Georgia

Important Tow to Go guidelines:

• Tow trucks can usually transport up to two people. If there are more people in your party, you will need to make other arrangements to get them home safely.
• You can’t make an appointment to use Tow to Go. It is designed as a safety net for those that did not plan ahead. Always choose a designated driver before you have your first drink.
• In some situations, AAA may need to make other arrangements to get an impaired individual a safe ride home.
• Tow to Go may not be available in rural areas or during severe weather conditions.

The Georgia State Patrol and the Motor Carrier Compliance Division will be on high visibility patrols on interstates and state roads during the New Year’s holiday travel periods. State troopers and Motor Carrier Compliance Division officers encourage motorists to exercise safe driving habits in an effort to reduce the number of crashes on Georgia roadways.

The 30-hour New Year’s holiday period will begin at 6 p.m. on Tues., Dec. 31, and end at 11:59 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 1.

According to AAA, “More Americans than ever on record – 115.6 million – will travel this holiday season, from Saturday, Dec. 21 through Wednesday, Jan. 1. That is the most in nearly 20 years since AAA began tracking in 2000, and represents an increase of 3.9 percent over last year, or 4.3 million more people packing up their sleighs for a holiday getaway.”

During the 2018 New Year’s holiday travel period, which was 102-hours long, Georgia State Patrol worked 550 wrecks that resulted in 223 injuries and seven fatalities. In addition, troopers and officers issued 6,971 citations, 11,339 warnings, and arrested 368 people for driving under the influence.