Operation Tipsy Tow Kicks Off for the Holidays
Save a life this holiday season by planning ahead
Billings, MT-12/18/08- The holiday season can be one of the deadliest and most dangerous times of the year due to an increase in impaired driving.
In 2007 alone, 133 people were killed in alcohol or drug related traffic crashes on Montana roads.*
To help avoid this tragedy, AAA has long partnered with Agave, Frank’s and Western Skies Towing to offer Operation Tipsy Tow. The service provides alcohol impaired drivers a free and confidential way to get home. Anyone can call Agave, Frank’s and Western Skies Towing at 860-9574 for a free tow within a 10 mile radius of the pick up location in the Billings city limits. Operation Tipsy Tow will be available December 19 through January 1.
“AAA, Agave, Frank’s and Western Skies Towing urge everyone to be responsible,” says Denice Harris, AAA Spokesperson. “Just one drink can impair your ability to drive safely, because judgment and motor skills are the first areas affected by alcohol consumption. It’s not worth the risk of killing yourself or someone else.”
If you plan to consume alcohol at a Holiday event, arrange a ride with a sober friend beforehand, call a cab or Operation Tipsy Tow. If you’re hosting a Holiday event plan a safe party by preparing for overnight guests, always offer non-alcoholic drinks as an alternative, and serve the drinks yourself so you know how many drinks each individual consumes. Everyone can do their part to help keep Montana roadways safe.
“Operation Tipsy Tow helps save lives and raises public awareness of drinking and driving during the Holidays.” says Harris. “We believe strongly in staying safe during the Holidays. Give us a call if you have had too much to drink. Don’t ever get behind the wheel.”
For a safer Holiday season, AAA, Agave, Frank’s and Western Skies Towing offered these simple reminders:
- If you plan on consuming alcohol, decide in advance who will be the designated sober driver and give them your keys.
- Call Operation Tipsy Tow, a cab or a sober friend.
- Promptly report drunk drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement.
- Wearing your seatbelt or using protective gear on your motorcycle is your best defense against an impaired driver.
- And remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
AAA MountainWest Club is dedicated to providing its over 160,000 members in Alaska, Montana and Wyoming with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services. A fully taxpaying, not for profit corporation, AAA MountainWest, Inc. works for the improvement of motoring and traveling conditions and is a leader for travel, civic and safety issues. AAA can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com. To have up-to-date news and safety information from AAA delivered right to your desktop, sign-up for the new RSS Feed at http://aca.aaa.com/exts/email/?club=066#rss
* Source- Montana Department of Transportation.
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