The Ultimate Holiday Party Favor: A Sober Ride Home

CCDOT Launches FREE iPhone App as Web Site Helps Partygoers Plan Ahead

DUI Enforcement Increases This Holiday Season

DENVER - As the holiday season gets into full swing, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado State Patrol, MillerCoors and Yellow Cab want to help Coloradans plan ahead for a sober ride when celebrating with alcohol over the holidays.  In keeping with technology, CDOT is launching a FREE iPhone application to help people make smart choices about designating a sober driver.  Increased DUI enforcement began over the Thanksgiving weekend, and will continue at various times through New Year's.

CDOT's Plan Ahead Web site, www.PlanAheadColorado.com, offers Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs and Northern Colorado residents tools and information to help them enjoy the holidays responsibly, including a list of bars and restaurants partnering with CDOT to distribute FREE cab vouchers worth five dollars off a cab fare.  Other options on the Web site include a list of hotels offering a discounted "Plan Ahead" rate, overnight parking options where people can leave their vehicles without getting ticketed or towed, and public transportation information including FREE RTD rides on New Year's Eve.

The "R-U-Buzzed BAC Calculator" iPhone app is rolling out just in time for the holidays.  The free app available in the Apple App Store allows users to calculate their estimated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) based on how many drinks they have consumed, how long they have been drinking, and their gender.  The app suggests that having a sober driver is the only safe option, and it will even provide the phone number of a local cab company with just a tap of the screen.

"The holidays are a time of year when people know in advance when they'll be attending parties and drinking alcohol. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to make the right decision to get a sober ride home," said Pam Hutton, CDOT governor's representative for highway safety.  "There's never an excuse for a DUI, especially when it's easy to find a safe and sober alternative."

The BAC calculator is only a guide that calculates averages.  Alcohol affects everyone differently.  Influencing factors include food consumption, medication, health and psychological conditions.  Experts recommend that if a person is in doubt, they should choose to have a designated driver.

The Web site and iPhone app launch as law enforcement agencies across the state increase DUI enforcement.  Over the Thanksgiving weekend, at least 455 people were arrested as a result of increased enforcement as reported by 38 local law enforcement agencies and the Colorado State Patrol.  This number is likely to increase as more agencies report their arrests.

Last year, 17 people died in alcohol-related crashes in Colorado from Dec. 1st through New Year's weekend, which represented more than one-third of all traffic deaths during that time period. The bars and restaurants listed on the Plan Ahead Web site have purchased Yellow Cab vouchers worth five dollars each, and will hand them out to patrons for free.  The Web site is continually updated with new participants, and businesses who want to join the program can log on to www.planaheadcolorado.com for more information.

The following restaurants and bars are Plan Ahead partners in the Denver/Boulder area, offering FREE $5 cab vouchers:

Bella Bistro

Breckenridge Ball Park Brew

Cherry Cricket

Earl's Restaurant & Bar (Denver)

Fado Irish Pub

Harpo's Sports Grill

Liquor Mart

Lodo's Bar & Grill (All Locations)

Maloney's Tavern

The Mediterranean

Millennium Harvest House

Nitro Club

Pinehurst Country Club

Rialto Café

Rock Bottom Brewery (Denver & Park Meadows)

Sports Column

Tilted Kilt

Wazee Supper Club

Wynkoop Brewing Co. 

The following restaurants and bars will have FREE $10 cab vouchers on select nights through a partnership with MillerCoors:

Buffalo Rose Saloon

Cherry Cricket

Croc's Mexican Grill

Eck's Saloon

Govnr's Park Restaurant & Tavern

Hoffbrau Colorado

In the Zone Sports Bar & Grill

Jackson's All-American Sports Grill

Lake Avenue Inn

Lodo's Bar and Grill

Oak Tavern

Ogden Street South

Pifler's Sports Tavern

Ritz-Carlton Hotel

Rock Rest Lounge

Sports Column

Stampede 

The Plan Ahead Web site also includes a growing list of Denver/Boulder hotels partnering with CDOT to offer a discounted "Plan Ahead Rate" to those who plan to just stay the night:

Hyatt Regency Convention Center

Grand Hyatt Denver

Millennium Harvest House

For those hosting holiday parties, the Web site also includes tips to keep your guests safe and to prevent drinking and driving. 

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Editor's Note:  For more information, and the latest update of partnering businesses, log on to www.PlanAheadColorado.com.

For more information on the DUI enforcement periods and to view detailed enforcement plans by agency, visit www.dot.state.co.us/trafficsafety/ and click "Reports" on the header.  Choose Enforcement Period Plans, select the appropriate period and click "Report."  To view DUI arrests totals after the enforcement periods start, click "Reports" on the header.  Choose "Heat is on! Enforcement," select the enforcement period and click "View Report."