Ohio offers Lyft rideshare credits to curb impaired driving during Thanksgiving

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) is taking proactive measures to ensure safe travel during the Thanksgiving holiday by offering $20 rideshare credits to drivers across the state.

This initiative, funded by a grant from the Governors Highway Safety Association in partnership with Lyft, aims to provide an alternative to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Beginning Nov. 26, Ohioans can claim a rideshare credit to avoid impaired driving this Thanksgiving, a day known for high alcohol consumption.

The rideshare credits will be available through the holiday weekend, coinciding with the Ohio State rivalry football game against Michigan in Columbus.

Even a small amount of alcohol can affect someone’s driving ability, that’s why it’s so important to plan a sober ride before you have even one drink,” Emily Davidson, Executive Director of OTSO, said. “We are grateful for this opportunity to give Ohioans a safe, affordable alternative to driving under the influence and protect communities from the dangers of drunk driving.”

The code for the rideshare credit will be posted on this website on Nov. 25, with a limited number of credits available each day.

To claim a credit, users should open the Lyft app, select “Payment” from the menu, scroll to the “Add Lyft Pass” section and enter the code from OTSO’s website. The $20 credit will be automatically applied, and must be used within 24 hours of being added to the app. Unused credits will return to the system for others to claim the following day.

In Ohio, 56% of all motor vehicle deaths are related to operating a vehicle impaired (OVI). In 2023, 725 people were killed in 672 drunk driving crashes, averaging nearly two fatalities per day. During last year’s Thanksgiving holiday weekend, 13 people died in 12 fatal crashes on Ohio’s roads, with nearly half involving an impaired driver.