Over 900 Delawareans Use Sober Ride Program

July 11, 2026/Mari Lou

Since last Thanksgiving over 900 Delawareans have taken advantage of a sober ride home. The 2025-2026 Sober Rides enforcement gives individuals an opportunity to use ride-share vouchers on Thanksgiving Eve, New Year’s Eve, St Patrick’s Day and the July 4th and America 250 holiday. Office of Highway Safety (OHS) says New Year’s saw the highest utilization rate in the program with 54% of the available vouchers used. St. Patrick’s Day saw 51% of the 725 vouchers used. Besides Sober Ride vouchers, other DUI and DUID (driving under the influence of drugs) programs are utilized throughout the year – including DUI checkpoints with law enforcement to prevent impaired driving.

A DUI checkpoint was scheduled in Sussex County Friday night.  OHS reminds drivers that impairment is not limited to alcohol. Prescription medications, cannabis, and other drugs can also affect judgment, coordination, and reaction time, making it unsafe and illegal to drive impaired.

Despite these efforts, impaired driving continues to be a concern on Delaware roadways. So far in 2026, Delaware has recorded 416 confirmed impairment-related crashes. Additional crashes with suspected impairment remain under investigation.

Motorists are reminded that if their plans include alcohol or other impairing substances, they should designate a sober driver, use a ride-share service, call a taxi, or make arrangements to stay where they are.

Additional information from OHS: 

Program Highlights

  • Thanksgiving Eve 2025: 345 vouchers were made available, and 162 were used. This resulted in a 47% utilization rate.
  • New Year’s Eve 2025: 450 vouchers were made available, and 244 were used. This resulted in a 54% utilization rate — the highest utilization rate in program history.
  • Patrick’s Day 2026: 725 vouchers were made available, and 369 were used. This resulted in a 51% utilization rate.
  • July Fourth and America 250 celebration: 300 vouchers were made available, and 129 were used. This resulted in a 43% utilization rate.

“Impaired driving is entirely preventable, and choosing a sober ride can save lives,” said Sharon Bryson, director of the Delaware Office of Highway Safety. “Every person who used a Sober Rides voucher made the decision not to drive impaired, helping reduce the risk of crashes and protect everyone traveling on Delaware’s roadways. We thank our community members and sponsors for supporting efforts that provide safe alternatives and help prevent impaired driving.”

The number of vouchers available during each holiday depends on the sponsor funds provided to support the program. During the 2025-2026 enforcement, Delawareans claimed the available vouchers within minutes after the program went live on MySoberRides.com.

A new generation of the Sober Rides program launched in November 2024, providing Delawareans access to up to $20 in ride-share vouchers for both Lyft and Uber. Since then, over 1,600 Delawareans have used Sober Rides. The program is typically available during four holiday periods each year, but the message is clear: No Delawarean should ever drive impaired. There’s always a safe alternative to driving after drinking.

In addition to the Sober Rides program, OHS implements numerous DUI and DUID (driving under the influence of drugs) prevention efforts throughout the year. From partnerships with community organizations that share messaging with local Delawareans to scheduling DUI checkpoints with law enforcement, OHS is committed to preventing impaired driving.

Impaired Driving Crash Statistics from 2025 (Delaware’s Annual Traffic Statistical Report, 2025):

  • Of the 118 total fatal crashes that occurred, 19% of them involved alcohol.
  • Impaired driving was a contributing factor in 833 crashes (fatal and nonfatal).
  • Law enforcement arrested 2,977 individuals for impaired driving.
  • Saturday night (8 p.m.) to Sunday morning (3 a.m.) was deemed the worst day and time to be on the road, with 61% of the fatal crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs.
  • Of the 755 drivers killed in traffic crashes in the last 10 years, 41% were under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
  • The state saw a 46% decrease in alcohol related fatal crashes statewide from 2024 to 2025.

Consequences of a DUI

A DUI can change your life in many ways. If you plan to drive impaired, you should prepare for the legal, financial, and social risks that follow.

  • Costs: Fines, court costs, ignition interlock, counseling classes, and higher insurance premiums can cost up to $10,000.
  • Loss of license: For a first offense, you will lose your license for 12 to 24 months. For a second and third offense, the time without your license grows. You’ll rely on family, friends, and ride-shares to get around.
  • Record: A DUI will stay on your driving record for a minimum of five years. This could harm employment and educational opportunities.
  • Injury: Crashes involving impaired driving can be deadly. If the crash is not fatal, you may suffer injuries that could change your life and the lives of your family and friends.

If you’re a local business owner interested in joining the 2026-2027 Sober Rides initiative, email SoberRides@abccreative.com for more information. We look forward to working with you to help Delawareans get home safely.

For more information about driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, visit ArriveAliveDE.com/Drive-Sober. For information about how prescription and nonprescription drugs can affect your driving, visit ArriveAliveDE.com/Be-Drug-Aware.

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