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Jed Boal ReportingIt appears people thought twice New Year's Eve before getting behind the wheel drunk. The number of DUI arrests dropped this year, and AAA likes the success of a new program.
Communities battle drunken driving on many fronts -- public awareness, DUI patrols and community programs. Tipsy Tow is a new AAA program that seems to have the traction to roll again next year.
Rolayne Fairclough, AAA: "We know that our call centers were busy, we offered a lot of people tows home, and we took a lot of people off the road who could have been dangerous."
People who drank too much to drive simply called AAA and one of their trucks towed the car and the driver home. AAA offered the service free to members and non-members.
Rolayne Fairclough: "Everybody's evaluating it now, but it's something we hope would happen again."
Salt Lake Valley DUI's dropped for the holiday weekend. Some law enforcement speculate rainy weather kept people off the roads, but the message is also sinking in. Utah regularly receives national recognition for success in reducing the number of alcohol-related fatal crashes.
Rolayne Fairclough: "You have to do a cultural shift. Not only do people have to change their attitudes on drinking and driving, you have to have programs like Tipsy Tow. It all works hand in hand."
AAA paid for the tows from its safety advocacy budget. Maybe next New Year's Eve you'll think of a Tipsy Tow.
