Wow. I am super excited to see a service like this emerge. Drunk driving is such a horrible problem, and at the same time, I know that no one climbs drunk into the drivers seat thinking, “I’m going to go run over someone tonight!” It’s just that other concerns seem more pressing – like, how am I going to get my car back tomorrow morning if I take a cab home tonight? This article hits the nail on the head, and covers a really unique solution. What do you think – will a service like this make a difference?
Victor Gallet and Teresa Kennerknecht are co-owners of Rides By Request. — John R. McCutchen
If you’re planning to have a few drinks this New Year’s Eve, you might be interested in a startup San Diego service that says it can get you home safely without leaving your car behind.
Victor Gallet, co-founder of Rides By Request, wants to provide an alternative to taxis and help stop people from driving drunk. Online: [ridesbyrequest.com]
“What sets us apart is that we are taking people home in their own vehicles,” said Gallet, who graduated last year with an economics degree from the University of California San Diego. “You don’t have to worry about (your car) getting towed or ticketed.”
Clients sign up for the service, then use its iPhone app or send a text when they need a ride; no reservations are accepted. A two-person team shows up, and one person drives the client home in his or her own car. The other person follows behind in a “chase” vehicle.
Since the service is so new, it wasn’t clear whether any agency regulates services like these. A spokesman for the Public Utilities Commission, which regulates “passenger carriers” such as buses and shuttles, wasn’t familiar with the business model and was researching it this week.
Gallet and co-founder Teresa Kennerknecht, a 2009 San Diego State University graduate, said they got their city business tax certificate in September. They said that their attorney advised them that they do not need a PUC or taxi license because they’re not operating a company vehicle to transport anyone. They said that their drivers are covered by the “occasional driver” provision of their clients’ insurance plans.
Rides By Request, which has about 80 registered users so far, aims to be cheaper than two taxi rides with flat-fee rates. A ride of up to five miles is $30, from six to 10 miles is $40, and from 11 to 15 miles is $50. So far, they have eight drivers working with them, all independent contractors.
Similar services are common in Europe. A service called ScooterMAN, for example, operates in several regions of the United Kingdom, including London. Its drivers arrive on a foldable scooter, which can be loaded into the trunk of the client’s car. (Gallet is from France and Kennerknecht is from Germany.)
To educate consumers, Gallet and Kennerknecht have been making presentations at public meetings in North Park and Pacific Beach.
That’s how David Cohen, owner of North Park’s West Coast Tavern, heard about the service. He has been telling customers about it and even tried it himself.
“I think anything that gives people an opportunity to drink and not drive is a great service,” said Cohen, who is president of the business-improvement district for North Park Main Street. “We need more taxi service and more accessibility to (public) transportation.”
The Rides By Request concept is similar to a service that used to be available in San Diego called Safe Ride Solutions, which was developed by Gary Lawrence, a detective with the San Diego Police Department.
“That is a key, to get the car home,” Lawrence said. “People will drive because they don’t want to leave their car behind. People won’t admit it, but that’s one of the reasons they drive drunk.”
But the Safe Ride Solutions service ceased operating a few months ago because of the high insurance costs, Lawrence said. His company now does consulting work for organizations such as universities that want to offer safe-ride programs.
Rides By Request has general liability insurance, Kennerknecht said, and is in the process of obtaining additional “non-owned vehicle insurance” to protect the company, its drivers and clients in case of a major accident.
Safe Ride Solutions originated in 2006 as a pilot program for the San Diego Chargers, and grew to operate in 25 U.S. markets using law enforcement professional drivers, Lawrence said. The service was known for its partnerships with the National Football League but also served corporations and the public, he said. The nightly cost, on average, was several hundred dollars.
Eloisa Orozco, executive director of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) San Diego County, said the organization encourages people to plan for alternate transportation, but doesn’t endorse any specific one. People who plan to drink might consider using a driver service, taking the trolley or calling a cab, she said.
“The easiest option is always to pass the keys to a buddy who will be a sober driver,” she said.
Read more http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/29/drank-too-much-theyll-drive/?page=2#article
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