Designated driver

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A designated driver on New Year's Eve 2011, United States; the yellow DD badge is courtesy of State Farm Insurance. WhovianVaCDesignatedDriver.JPG
A designated driver on New Year's Eve 2011, United States; the yellow DD badge is courtesy of State Farm Insurance.

The terms "designated driver" and "designated driving" (commonly known as DD) refer to the selection of a person who remains sober as the responsible driver of a vehicle whilst others have been allowed to drink alcoholic beverages.

Contents

Thus, as a practical and ethical matter a designated driver is a person who abstains from alcohol on an occasion in order to drive their companions home safely as an alternative to driving under the influence. In order to encourage these arrangements, some bar, restaurant and nightclub proprietors will offer free or reduced-price soft drinks to designated drivers. [1]

History

The designated driver concept was developed in Scandinavia over several decades beginning in the 1920s, leading to a formalized designated driver program in the 1980s. [2] The program was introduced in Canada in 1986 by Hiram Walker and Sons as "The Canadian Club Designated Driver Program". The program was accepted readily and supported by the police, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the hospitality industry and the public. There were few if any detractors. The program was heavily promoted by Hiram Walker's president Doug Young and the company's PR agency Marshall Fenn Limited led by David Butler. The concept swept Canada, the United States and many other countries during 1986.

The concept was imported to the United States on a large scale in 1988 through the Harvard Alcohol Project, [2] an initiative by the Harvard School of Public Health's Center for Health Communication, led by Jay Winsten. With heavy involvement by television networks and Hollywood studios, the campaign popularized the concept through public service announcements, as well as the encouragement of drunk driving prevention messages and designated driver references in popular television programs, [2] such as Cheers , L.A. Law , and The Cosby Show . The U.S. Department of Transportation used public affairs commercials with the phrase "friends don't let friends drive drunk". [2]

President Bill Clinton participated in the designated driver campaign throughout his presidency, taping public service announcements each year at the request of the Harvard Alcohol Project. [3] [4] With the endorsement of a broad range of individuals and organizations, designated driving became a national movement, with "designated driver" becoming a common phrase. Based on several polls indicating an increase in designated driving practices since the start of the initiative, the campaign is credited as a contributing factor to the decline in alcohol-related traffic fatalities between 1988 and 1994. [5]

Since 2005, the spirits company Diageo has used a similar concept in Brazil to discourage drunk driving. Called Piloto da Vez, the campaign was born with the sponsorship of McLaren. Juan Pablo Montoya, Mika Häkkinen and Lewis Hamilton have participated in the campaign.

Impediments

Though designated drivers are popular, groups often fail to use them properly. [6] Often, there is a failure of those groups to designate the driver prior to making travel arrangements and arrive in separate vehicles. Even when a group does share a vehicle, it is not always the case that the designated driver remains sober. Failures to require driver abstinence or limitation of consumption is another problem. One study conducted at the Tijuana/San Diego border found that by asking groups intent on drinking to identify the designated driver prior to entering the bar district, the driver later returned with substantially lower BACs compared with the control groups. [7]

Advocacy groups

Various college and high school organizations, such as RamRide at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, CARPOOL at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, Drive Safe Kalamazoo at Western Michigan University, and BUSY at Gulfport High School in Gulfport, Mississippi, offer to give free rides home on weekend nights to fellow students.

Businesses

United States

Numerous businesses have sprouted up across the United States to help address the problem of drinking and driving. Some transport their drivers' home, as passengers, using one of three methods: car, collapsible scooter, or foldable bike. These are not necessarily true designated driver programs, but instead Safe Ride programs, as the sober driver is not designated from within the natural drinking group. [8] Designated Drivers, Inc, was founded in 1998 and later based out of Las Vegas, NV. This company has used two person teams: one person to drive the impaired individual in their own vehicle, and the other person as the follow driver. Pittsburgh's Pear Transportation Company, aka The Pear Cares, has also become well known for using the two-person team approach. [9] Dryver, formerly known as BeMyDD, established itself by offering designated driver services for events, car pickups for drivers who are too impaired to make it home, and personal drivers for evenings out. [10] NightRiders, Incorporated was the first company to use collapsible, motorized scooters in the US. The drivers drove customers home using their own vehicles, stowing a scooter in the customer's trunk (or truck). Upon arrival to the customer's destination, the driver parked the vehicle, collected the fare, assembled the scooter from the vehicle, and rode off to the next customer. This company is now out of business, according to their website. Zingo Transportation has operated this kind of service in southern US cities since 2005.

South Korea

Designated driver services in South Korea are widely prevalent and in high demand, especially in major cities such as Seoul and Busan. Designated driver call centers operate as a central dispatch with some vendors providing mobile apps to request a driver. The driver arrives at the location of the customer's vehicle and will drive it to the requested location for a fee. The Korean language word for these designated drivers for hire is 'dae-ri un-jeon' (대리운전) meaning replacement driver. According to the Korea Service Driver Society, an estimated 100,000 replacement drivers handle 700,000 customers a day across the country (2007) [11]

Australia

Designated driver services in Australia exist in many capital cities and regional towns. The service is in high demand due to highly regulated, unreliable taxi services. [12]

New Zealand

In 2017, Coca-Cola announced a promotion to encourage people to have sober drivers by offering free Coca-Cola. [13]

Canada

Ontario

Canada has a long history with designated driver services provided by private enterprise going back to 1996 in Ontario. One of central Ontario's largest designated driver services LUDUH Designated Drivers has transported thousands of clients home over the years with multiple offices in Ontario Canada. In the last 10 to 15 years, a number of designated driving services have cropped up all over the province with companies such as URDD (www.urddservice.com) as well as Keys To Us (www.keystous.ca). Companies like these bring technology and professionalism to industry. [14]

British Columbia

B.C. has a huge market of designated driver services and new ones are created monthly. Companies throughout the province work 7 days a week to drive intoxicated individuals home in their own vehicles for a fee. If you expect customer service it is not the goal. The DD industry is not regular means for travel but a lifeline service [15]

China

In China, dàijià (代驾) apps, such as E-Daijia and Didi Daijia, [16] allow a customer to hire a driver to drive them home in the customer's own car. [17] This service's popularity is driven by high population density and low cost. [17] The service is used by customers who have been drinking or who want to work on the way instead of focusing on driving. [16] Drivers put an e-bike in the trunk of the car and ride it away after dropping off the customer and the car. [16]

Hong Kong Designated Driver Limited (HKDD) or easydrive also helps individuals to safely get home in their own cars. HKDD provides Android and iOS mobile apps for their users. [18] [19]

Related Research Articles

Drunk driving is the act of operating a motor vehicle with the operator's ability to do so impaired as a result of alcohol consumption, or with a blood alcohol level in excess of the legal limit. For drivers 21 years or older, driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher is illegal. For drivers under 21 years old, the legal limit is lower, with state limits ranging from 0.00 to 0.02. Lower BAC limits apply when operating boats, airplanes, or commercial vehicles. Among other names, the criminal offense of drunk driving may be called driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated or impaired (DWI), operating [a] vehicle under the influence of alcohol (OVI), or operating while impaired (OWI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Driving under the influence</span> Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of an impairing substance

Driving under the influence (DUI) is the offense of driving, operating, or being in control of a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs, to a level that renders the driver incapable of operating a motor vehicle safely. Multiple other terms are used for the offense in various jurisdictions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mothers Against Drunk Driving</span> Nonprofit organization

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a non-profit organization in the United States, Canada and Brazil that seeks to stop driving with any amount of alcohol in the bloodstream, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and strive for stricter impaired driving policy, whether that impairment is caused by alcohol or any other drug. The Irving, Texas-based organization was founded on September 5, 1980, in California by Candace Lightner after her 13-year-old daughter, Cari, was killed by a drunk driver. There is at least one MADD office in every state of the United States and at least one in each province of Canada. These offices offer victim services and many resources involving alcohol safety. MADD has claimed that drunk driving has been reduced by half since its founding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ignition interlock device</span> Breathalyzer for an individuals vehicle

An ignition interlock device or breath alcohol ignition interlock device is a breathalyzer for an individual's vehicle. It requires the driver to blow into a mouthpiece on the device before starting or continuing to operate the vehicle. If the resultant breath-alcohol concentration analyzed result is greater than the programmed blood alcohol concentration, the device prevents the engine from being started. The interlock device is located inside the vehicle, near the driver’s seat, and is directly connected to the engine’s ignition system. It is a form of electronic monitoring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commercial driver's license</span> License to operate large or heavy vehicles

A commercial driver's license (CDL) is a driver's license required in the United States to operate large and heavy vehicles or a vehicle of any size that transports hazardous materials or more than 15 passengers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob campaign</span>

The Bob campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of drink-driving; drivers with high blood alcohol content are at increased risk of car accidents, highway injuries and vehicular deaths. Alongside the general information that is offered during the campaign, there is an increased police surveillance, especially during the weeks running up to Christmas and New Year's Eve. Most of all, the campaign focuses on a designated driver approach.

Usage-based insurance (UBI), also known as pay as you drive (PAYD), pay how you drive (PHYD) and mile-based auto insurance, is a type of vehicle insurance whereby the costs are dependent upon type of vehicle used, measured against time, distance, behavior and place.

NightRiders, Incorporated was the first U.S. designated-driver-for-hire service to use collapsible motor scooters, also known as monkey bikes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Random checkpoint</span> Temporary military or police roadblock

A random checkpoint is a military and police tactic. In a military context, checkpoints involve the setup of a hasty roadblock by mobile truck- or armored vehicle-mounted infantry to disrupt unauthorized or unwanted movement or military activity and to check for valid identification and search for contraband, fugitives, or weapons that are not permitted in civilian hands. Random checkpoints are set up to achieve surprise, as opposed to known permanently located checkpoints, which suspects could circumvent. They are often established in locations where they cannot be observed by approaching traffic until it is too late to withdraw and escape without being observed.

Motability is a scheme run by a private company called Motability Operations Ltd, intended to enable disabled people, their families and their carers to lease a new car, scooter or powered wheelchair, using their disability benefit. It is overseen by the charity called the Motability Foundation in the United Kingdom. According to its response to a UK Government inquiry in 2019 into enhancing mobility for disabled citizens, Motability Ltd had over 620,000 customers. In 2022 it made a pre-tax profit of £1.1bn. According to Citizen's Advice, access to the scheme is dependent on eligibility relative to mobility conditions in government schemes, including: Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) or War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement. Motability's 2019/2020 audit document reported 94% of persons using Motability's scheme to buy a car either have a physical disability or long term health condition. In 2018, the National Audit Office praised the customer satisfaction rates for the service, but criticised the profit and reserve levels the charity held. They also noted criticised its governance and "executive remuneration." A response to a 2019 parliamentary committee to release £343 million of its £2.5bn reserve was greeted as a "first step" to making best use of its "vast sums."

Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org), formerly known as the Century Council, is an American not-for-profit organization founded in 1991 and funded by a group of distillers that aims to fight to eliminate drunk driving and underage drinking and promotes responsible decision-making regarding alcohol use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texting while driving</span> Dangerous use of cell phones

Texting while driving, also called texting and driving, is the act of composing, sending, or reading text messages on a mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle. Texting while driving is considered extremely dangerous by many people, including authorities, and in some places has either been outlawed or restricted. As a form of distracted driving, texting while driving significantly increases the chances that a driver will be involved in a motor vehicle accident.

The 2009 Taconic State Parkway crash was a traffic collision that occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m. on July 26, 2009, on the Taconic State Parkway in the town of Mount Pleasant, near the village of Briarcliff Manor, New York, United States. A minivan, being driven by 36-year-old Diane Schuler, traveled 1.7 miles (2.7 km) in the wrong direction on the parkway and collided head-on with an oncoming SUV. Eight people were killed: Schuler, her daughter and three nieces, and the three occupants in the SUV. The crash was the worst fatal motor vehicle crash to occur in Westchester County since July 22, 1934, when a bus crash in Ossining claimed twenty lives.

The laws of driving under the influence vary between countries. One difference is the acceptable limit of blood alcohol content before a person is charged with a crime. Thresholds range from the limit of detection (zero-tolerance) to 0.08%. Some countries have no limits or laws on blood alcohol content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drunk driving</span> Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol

Drunk driving is the act of driving under the influence of alcohol. A small increase in the blood alcohol content increases the relative risk of a motor vehicle crash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcohol-related traffic crashes in the United States</span>

Alcohol-related traffic crashes are defined by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as alcohol-related if either a driver or a non-motorist had a measurable or estimated BAC of 0.01 g/dl or above.

Kunhadi is a non-profit organization concerned with road safety in Lebanon. Kunhadi is aimed at raising road safety awareness, especially among young people. The organization was established in 2006 after Hady Gebrane died from a car crash at age 18.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bolt (company)</span> Peer-to-peer ridesharing, food delivery

Bolt is an Estonian mobility company that offers ride-hailing, micromobility rental, food and grocery delivery, and carsharing services. The company is headquartered in Tallinn and operates in over 500 cities in more than 45 countries in Europe, Africa, Western Asia and Latin America. The company has more than 150 million customers and more than 3 million driver and courier partners. The company has plans for an initial public offering in 2025.

Mobility as a service (MaaS) is a type of service that enables users to plan, book, and pay for multiple types of mobility services through a combined platform. Transportation services from public and private transportation providers are combined through a unified gateway, usually via an app or website, that creates and manages the trip and payments, including subscriptions, with a single account. The key concept behind MaaS is to offer travelers flexible mobility solutions based on their travel needs, thus "mobility as a service" also refers to the broader concept of a shift away from personally-owned modes of transportation and towards mobility provided as a service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smart Columbus</span> Technology development organization in US

Smart Columbus is an innovation organization in Columbus, Ohio. The initiative is led by the City of Columbus and the Columbus Partnership, a nonprofit organization for development in Central Ohio. Smart Columbus was founded in 2016 to utilize $50 million in grant awards toward technology, transportation, and environmental developments.

References

  1. ↑ "CHEERS General FAQ's". University of Missouri-Columbia. Archived from the original on 2017-05-05. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Greenberg, Martin Alan (2005-09-28). "7. Potential Roles for Volunteer Police Service". Citizens Defending America: From Colonial Times to the Age of Terrorism (1 ed.). University of Pittsburgh Press. p.  198. ISBN   978-0-8229-4264-1. OCLC   57754151 . Retrieved 2009-06-06.
  3. ↑ Solomon-Schwartz, Benjamin P. (1999-11-30). "Clinton Appears in Announcement Encouraging Y2K Designated Driving". The Harvard Crimson. Archived from the original on 2004-11-07. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  4. ↑ Elliott, Stuart (1992-12-23). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS - ADVERTISING; A (Nearly) Presidential Call for Care in Holiday Imbibing". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  5. ↑ Winsten, Jay A. (2000). "The Harvard Alcohol Project: Promoting the "Designated Driver"". In Suman, Michael; Rossman, Gabriel (eds.). Advocacy Groups and the Entertainment Industry . Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers. pp.  3–8. ISBN   978-0-275-96885-4.
  6. ↑ Fell, J., Voas, R., & Lange, J. (1997). Designated Driver Concept: Extent of Use in the USA. J Traffic Med, 25(3-4).
  7. ↑ Lange, J. E., Reed, M. B., Johnson, M. B., & Voas, R. B. (2006). The efficacy of experimental interventions designed to reduce drinking among designated drivers. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 67(2), 261-268.
  8. ↑ Lange, J. E., Johnson, M. B., & Reed, M. B. (2006). Drivers within natural drinking groups: An exploration of role selection, motivation, and group influence on driver sobriety. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 32, 261-274.
  9. ↑ Goga, Jennifer (2009-12-09). "Service caters to those too drunk to drive". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
  10. ↑ "BeMyDD and Dryver.com Merge to Expand Nation's #1 Largest Personal Driver Service" (Press release). IPD Group. 2016-11-16. Retrieved 2016-12-13– via EIN Newsdesk.
  11. ↑ Sang-Hun, Choe (July 10, 2007). "Drinkers in Korea Dial for Designated Drivers (Published 2007)". The New York Times.
  12. ↑ "Pre-booking taxi won't beat crowd - The West Australian". Archived from the original on 2010-12-11.
  13. ↑ "Free Coke for sober drivers in Waikato". Stuff. November 8, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Feature: Drinking and driving alternatives - Autos.ca". Archived from the original on 2012-01-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ↑ "AM730 All Traffic All The Time | Vancouver's Traffic Station". AM 730.
  16. 1 2 3 "Millions in China working in shadow of sharing, but uncaring, economy". The Straits Times. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  17. 1 2 "Meet the woman getting China's drinkers home safely". ABC News. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  18. ↑ "港首個代駕App 攻專業人士 生意每兩周倍增 冀半年後月賺20萬 - 香港經濟日報 - 報章 - 工商". paper.hket.com.
  19. ↑ "【拒絕醉駕】全港首個代駕App登陸". Archived from the original on 2016-10-17. Retrieved 2016-05-11.
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