Safe Ride program offers alternative ride home for UA students
Molly Morrison
Issue date: 8/22/07 Section: Life & Style
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As classes commence and students return to campus, an important program will also recur to ensure the safety of all UA students.
The Safe Ride program provides students an alternative ride home for individuals in potentially threatening situations. The main purpose of the program is to save lives and prevent injuries and damages to property by offering students a safe option to drunk driving and other threatening situations, according to the Transit and Parking Web site.
The Safe Ride program was created by a student proposal in 2002 and is sponsored by the Associated Student Government in collaboration with Razorback Transit.
"Safe Ride is one of the most beneficial and rewarding programs that is offered on our campus," said ASG president Nate Looney.
Junior student Kathryn Luttrell frequently utilizes Safe Ride's services and said, "Safe Ride is great because I feel much safer at night knowing that there are less drunk drivers on the roads and that I always have an alternative to drinking and driving. Over the past three years, I have used the safe ride service over a dozen times. Safe ride is the only way to go!"
Safe ride programs are becoming common among colleges and universities nationwide to help combat the tragedies associated with drunken driving and other safety issues, according to friendsdrivesober.org.
"The people who use Safe Ride, or call a cab, or plan ahead and use designated drivers are benefiting themselves and everyone else by reducing the number of impaired drivers on the road," said Lt. Gary Crain, UAPD public information officer.
In addition to preventing students from driving under the influence, Safe Ride programs increase safety by proposing a choice for sober students who would otherwise be faced with the decision to walk alone at night.
"Safe ride has helped my friends and I make more responsible decisions by promoting safety, convenience and by making the service available to every student free of charge," said junior Kellye Flemming.
The UA Police Department is not directly connected with the Safe Ride program; however, they support the program and encourage its use.
"We talk about it in our safety presentations, programs and written information," Crain said. "We want to make sure people are aware of the program and realize they have that option."
Safe Ride expanded last year and now runs from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. A "Night Owl" service was voted into affect by ASG last year, and runs Monday and Tuesday nights because of increased safety concerns that were raised over the year. This service is mainly for students who are studying or attending student events past 10:30 p.m. and do not feel safe walking to their cars.
"Our goal for last year was to give over 3,000 rides; however, we were able to reach over 7,700 students," Looney said.
"Safe Ride is quick, easy and effective, and I believe that it really save lives. If the program helps just one student out of the 8,000, then Safe Ride has done its job. I believe in Safe Ride because it makes a real difference," Looney said.
The service area of the Safe Ride program is within the Fayetteville city limits. Safe Ride transportation is only available for UA students and a maximum of three guests. Students will be taken from any place in the Fayetteville city limits, particularly from local bars and restaurants, to their residence within the Fayetteville city limits, according to asg.uark.edu.
Looney indicated that ASG hopes to see the Safe Ride Program reach over 8,000 students this year.
"When Safe Ride is thriving, we are making a difference in the community, our campus and our students. We will never know how many lives were saved or bettered because of this program's presence," Looney said.
Students who plan to use Safe Ride will need to contact 575-SAFE, provide their university ID number and a driver from Safe Ride will pick them up.
The Safe Ride program provides students an alternative ride home for individuals in potentially threatening situations. The main purpose of the program is to save lives and prevent injuries and damages to property by offering students a safe option to drunk driving and other threatening situations, according to the Transit and Parking Web site.
The Safe Ride program was created by a student proposal in 2002 and is sponsored by the Associated Student Government in collaboration with Razorback Transit.
"Safe Ride is one of the most beneficial and rewarding programs that is offered on our campus," said ASG president Nate Looney.
Junior student Kathryn Luttrell frequently utilizes Safe Ride's services and said, "Safe Ride is great because I feel much safer at night knowing that there are less drunk drivers on the roads and that I always have an alternative to drinking and driving. Over the past three years, I have used the safe ride service over a dozen times. Safe ride is the only way to go!"
Safe ride programs are becoming common among colleges and universities nationwide to help combat the tragedies associated with drunken driving and other safety issues, according to friendsdrivesober.org.
"The people who use Safe Ride, or call a cab, or plan ahead and use designated drivers are benefiting themselves and everyone else by reducing the number of impaired drivers on the road," said Lt. Gary Crain, UAPD public information officer.
In addition to preventing students from driving under the influence, Safe Ride programs increase safety by proposing a choice for sober students who would otherwise be faced with the decision to walk alone at night.
"Safe ride has helped my friends and I make more responsible decisions by promoting safety, convenience and by making the service available to every student free of charge," said junior Kellye Flemming.
The UA Police Department is not directly connected with the Safe Ride program; however, they support the program and encourage its use.
"We talk about it in our safety presentations, programs and written information," Crain said. "We want to make sure people are aware of the program and realize they have that option."
Safe Ride expanded last year and now runs from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. A "Night Owl" service was voted into affect by ASG last year, and runs Monday and Tuesday nights because of increased safety concerns that were raised over the year. This service is mainly for students who are studying or attending student events past 10:30 p.m. and do not feel safe walking to their cars.
"Our goal for last year was to give over 3,000 rides; however, we were able to reach over 7,700 students," Looney said.
"Safe Ride is quick, easy and effective, and I believe that it really save lives. If the program helps just one student out of the 8,000, then Safe Ride has done its job. I believe in Safe Ride because it makes a real difference," Looney said.
The service area of the Safe Ride program is within the Fayetteville city limits. Safe Ride transportation is only available for UA students and a maximum of three guests. Students will be taken from any place in the Fayetteville city limits, particularly from local bars and restaurants, to their residence within the Fayetteville city limits, according to asg.uark.edu.
Looney indicated that ASG hopes to see the Safe Ride Program reach over 8,000 students this year.
"When Safe Ride is thriving, we are making a difference in the community, our campus and our students. We will never know how many lives were saved or bettered because of this program's presence," Looney said.
Students who plan to use Safe Ride will need to contact 575-SAFE, provide their university ID number and a driver from Safe Ride will pick them up.
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