Drive Safe Hampton Roads, a coalition of public and private organizations with the mission of improving roadway safety and reducing deaths and injuries from vehicle crashes, will partner with rideshare company Lyft to provide free sober rides valued up to $15 during the July 4 holiday weekend.

Rides will be available:

• From 3 p.m. Thursday, July 3, through 3 a.m. Friday, July 4
• From 3 p.m. July 4 through 3 a.m. Saturday, July 5
• from 3 p.m. July 5 through 3 a.m. Sunday, July 6

During this period, area residents 21 and older, who are celebrating with alcohol, legal or illegal drugs may download the Lyft app to their phones, then enter the 757 Sober Ride campaign promo code, which will be posted at 3 p.m. on each day of the campaign (codes are not interchangeable with the sessions). 

The codes will be posted at www.drivesafehr.org/757-sober-ride. Add the code in the app’s “Payment” tab (under the “Add Lyft Pass” option) to receive a no-cost safe transport home. 

The codes will only work if used during the above-stated period for rides originating from or having a destination within Hampton Roads, subject to Lyft’s terms of service. Drive Safe Hampton Roads serves  James City County, Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Smithfield, area military bases, York, Poquoson, Gloucester County, and Accomack and Northampton Counties on the Eastern Shore.

“Impaired driving can take away your freedom or someone else’s freedom permanently. Celebrate responsibly by choosing 757 Sober Ride or designate a driver before drinking. Remember, ‘buzzed driving is drunk driving’ and impaired driving crashes and the injuries and deaths associated with them are 100% preventable,” said Drive Safe Hampton Roads’ Impaired Driving Prevention Chairman Brian Hennessy.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that from 2019 to 2023, there

were 2,653 people killed in motor vehicle crashes over the Fourth of July holiday period – 38% of the drivers killed were drunk, with 48% being between the ages of 21-34. During the five days of Independence Day celebrations in 2024, Virginia experienced 1,445 crashes, resulting in 772 injuries and 10 fatalities. Ninety-nine of those crashes were alcohol-related, with 65 injuries and four deaths, according to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

The 757 Sober Ride campaigns are funded in-part by a grant from the DMV.