Tavern League SafeRide Program – Over 1 Million Rides!
The Tavern League of Wisconsin created their SafeRide Program in 1985. Since then the Program has expanded to cover nearly every county in the state and since 2005 the TLW SafeRide Program has provided over 1 million rides to TLW patrons in Wisconsin.
In 1985, the Tavern League of Wisconsin established an innovative and award winning program called SafeRide. The concept was simple: If an individual is out and may have had one too many, providing them a free cab ride home was better than the alternative.
After funding the program internally for a number of years, TLW was eventually able to secure a federal grant to fund and expand the program. Then, during the 1999-2000 Legislative Session, the Wisconsin State Legislature enacted 1999 Wisconsin Act 109, which formalized the program and funded it with a portion of the OWI surcharge.
In the 2015-17 biennial budget, the State Legislature created an additional $50 SafeRide surcharge on OWI convictions to help offset a reduction in revenue due to the decline in OWI convictions. Last session, the Legislature enacted legislation that would allow the TLW to utilize grant money to increase public awareness of the program.
Thanks in part to the SafeRide program, Wisconsin has experienced a 50% decline in alcohol-related fatalities since 2005. During that time, the Tavern League of Wisconsin provided over 1.1 million SafeRides. TLW continues to expand the SafeRide program, which now operates in over 60 Wisconsin Counties, by working to include ride-sharing solutions to the traditional model of taxi rides in communities around the state.
To view participating SafeRide taverns download the TLW app or ask your bartender if they participate in the SafeRide Program.