Auto Club Offers Tipsy Tow Service for Independence Day.

Travel & Lifestyle Editors

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 from 6 p.m. on Wednesday July 3, to midnight on Thursday, 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 for a free tow home of up to seven miles. 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 about getting behind the wheel if they have been drinking," said Arline Dillman, Ph.D., the Auto Club 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 takes only one or two drinks to slow physical and mental skills and affect vision, steering, braking judgement and reaction time," said Dillman. "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 2000 (the latest figures available) is far lower than it was 20 years ago, it's still disturbingly high -- 184,000, according to Dillman. Statewide annual alcohol-related fatal and injury crashes have also decreased sharply and are nearly 56 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 don't plan for other ways to get home because they are concerned about retrieving their vehicle. They cite the expense of taxis and time inconvenience as the major reasons they don't use alternative transportation, according to the Auto Club. Tipsy Tow provides motorists with a safe ride home for themselves and their vehicles instead of driving while intoxicated.

People convicted of driving under the influence could lose many of the most important things in their lives such as family, job, dignity and money. The Auto Club estimates that a first time DUI conviction can cost about $11,000 in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees and insurance costs.

Current laws, enforcement, public awareness and education efforts by public service-oriented organizations, including the Auto Club, have contributed to the decline in the number of alcohol-related fatalities and injuries for the past 10 years. The Auto Club provides the Tipsy Tow service and free publications as part of its "You Drink. You Drive. You Lose" public awareness campaign.

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:

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

-- Call a friend or 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 and provide a gift to guests who volunteer to be designated drivers.

-- 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.