Auto Club Offers Tipsy Tow Service for Independence Day.

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28, 2001

The Automobile Club of Southern California is offering its free Tipsy Tow service to the public during the Fourth of July holiday.

The service is available between 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3, to midnight on Wednesday, July 4. Tipsy Tow is available in the 13 Southern California counties served by the Auto Club.

Motorists, bartenders, restaurant managers, party hosts or passengers of a drinking driver may call 800/400-4AAA anytime between 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3 and midnight on Wednesday, July 4. Callers simply tell the Auto Club operator, "I need a Tipsy Tow," to receive the free tow and ride home. A regular Auto Club-contracted emergency road service truck will be dispatched.

Callers need to keep in mind that the service excludes rides for passengers, is restricted to a one-way, one-time ride for the driver, and the destination is limited to the driver's residence. Reservations are not accepted. Drivers can expect to pay the rate charged by the tow truck contractor for rides farther than seven miles.

"We want motorists to be aware of the high crash risk from drinking and driving associated with holidays and encourage them to think twice before getting behind the wheel if they have been drinking," said Arline Dillman, Ph.D., the Auto Club's traffic safety manager.

Independence Day is a traditional time for excursions, parties, trips to the beach, backyard picnics and barbecues, activities that contribute to a more relaxed atmosphere and more drinking, according to Dillman.

"It only takes one or two drinks to slow physical and mental skills and affect vision, steering, braking judgement and reaction time," Dillman said. "We hope drivers are aware that the CHP and police departments are likely to be using extra patrols to look for drinking drivers during holidays."

While the number of Californians arrested for driving under the influence in 1999 (the latest figure available) is far lower than it was 20 years ago, it's still disturbingly high -- 190,000, according to Dillman. Statewide annual alcohol-related fatal and injury crashes have also decreased sharply and are nearly 60 percent lower than they were 20 years ago.

"We'd like to see these numbers reduced even further, particularly the high numbers during the holidays," added Dillman.

Drinking drivers frequently fail to seek and obtain alternative ways to get home because they are concerned about the retrieval of their vehicle, the expense of taxis and the inconvenience of alternative transportation. Tipsy Tow is intended to give motorists a safer option for getting themselves and their vehicle home, instead of driving while intoxicated.

The Auto Club advises that motorists can keep themselves and others safe and can avoid DUI arrests by keeping these driving safety tips in mind over the summer holidays:

-- At social events, designate a non-drinking driver who can get everyone home
safely.

-- Call a friend or a family member for a ride if you've been drinking.

-- Keep a cab company telephone number in your wallet so you can call for a
ride home.

-- As a party host, offer a variety of non-alcoholic drink alternatives,
provide a gift to guests who volunteer to be designated drivers and arrange
transportation through programs such as Tipsy Tow for guests who have been
drinking.

-- Take the car keys away from friends and relatives who have had too much to
drink.

The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest AAA affiliate, has been serving members since 1900. Today, Auto Club members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance, financial products, travel agency and trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance products and services and automotive pricing, buying and financing programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.