Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Uber Partner to Provide a Reliable Alternative to Help People Get Home Safely

In 1986, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) introduced a new phrase into the general lexicon – the designated driver. Thirty years later, it is a phrase that continues to be used today to describe a non-drinking driver who drives someone who has been drinking.

This week, we’ve taken another step forward in our Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® by enhancing our partnership by naming Uber as our official designated driver app.

This partnership simply makes sense. Uber provides an incredible opportunity to improve road safety in new and innovative ways — before, during and after every ride.

“Today, too many people are hurt or killed on the roads,” National MADD President Colleen Sheehey-Church said. “We believe that by providing people with more choices, we can help them make better decisions; and, by using new technology, we can improve safety for everyone on the road.”

After the announcement this week, we immediately kicked off with a campaign related to the Fourth of July weekend, one of the deadliest times for drunk driving. In 2014, 41% of all traffic deaths over the July 4th weekend were due to drunk driving – a 50% increase over an average day.

So, from July 1st through the 5th, Uber is matching all donations to MADD, $1 for $1, up to $25,000. This is only the start of our expanded partnership.

This partnership works well because both Uber and MADD believe that technology provides an incredible opportunity to improve road safety in new and innovative ways before, during, and after every ride. Since we’ve been working with Uber for two years, we’ve already seen how providing a reliable ride at the push of a button has made a difference. Our rush hour is when bars close -- late on Friday and Saturday nights.

In places where we can provide rides in a timely manner -- with low ETAs -- we see again and again, that when people have a reliable alternative to get home safely, they choose not to drink and drive.

No matter the time or place — Uber is empowering people to make better, safer choices. It’s why Mothers Against Drunk Driving has chosen to partner with us in their efforts to eliminate drunk driving, and why at least 80% of riders across Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Virginia, and Delaware say that Uber has helped them personally avoid drinking and driving.

• At least 90% of riders say that Uber helps reduce drinking and driving
• At least 80% of riders say that Uber has helped them personally avoid drinking and driving

Through this partnership, both Uber and MADD, aim to keep the roads safe by offering people an easy, low cost, and fast option for getting home safely after a night of drinking. This is key step forward in our plan to end drunk driving. 

Support This Cause Through Employee Giving:

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a member of America's Charities. Your company can support MADD through a corporate partnership and by starting an employee giving program with America's Charities. Our online giving technology and solutions can facilitate your workplace giving campaign and other company cause initiatives. America’s Charities has been mobilizing the workforce to affect social change through employee giving and other company philanthropic initiatives for over 35 years and we have raised more than $650 million of sustainable funds for more than 10,000 nonprofits as a result.