March 13, 2025

Drivers Celebrating with Alcohol on St. Patrick's Day Have Safe Transportation Options


If you are planning to celebrate with alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day, Monday, March 17, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and the Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) remind residents not to drink and drive. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly half of all traffic deaths on St. Patrick’s Day involve drunk drivers.

MCDOT urges residents who choose to celebrate with alcohol to plan ahead for a safe ride home.

Residents are urged to make plans before heading out to celebrate and to consider using one of the following safe ride options:
  • SoberRide is a free ride home program offered by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, in partnership with Lyft. A limited number of promotional codes for Lyft will be posted at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 on SoberRide.com. The codes are valid for up to $15 off one ride home taken in Lyft’s Washington, D.C. coverage area nightly from 4 p.m., Saturday, March 15 until 4 a.m. Tuesday, March 18. Participants must be 21 or older.
  • MCDOT’s Ride On bus is available with a fare of $1 on all County buses. There are currently 80 routes throughout the County that operate daily. Download the free regional public transit app Ride On Trip Planner to plan your next trip.
  • To learn about other year-round safe ride options, visit the County’s Vision Zero Safe Ride webpage.