AAA and Budweiser Offer Tow to Go Service for Cinco de Mayo

NEWS RELEASE Contact:               Joanna Newton, spokesperson, Public & Government Relations, AAA Auto Club South, (813) 289-5859 office  (813) 787-6886 cell, JNewton@AAASouth.com Mandy Llanes, Southeast Region Director, Consumer Awareness & Education, Anheuser-Busch Companies, (305)323-9737 cell

  Remember to Choose a Designated Driver Before the Cinco de Mayo Celebration Begins

 AAA and Budweiser Offer Free Tow to Go Services to Intoxicated Drivers

TAMPA, Fla. (May 3, 2011) – AAA Auto Club South and Budweiser will protect roadways over the Cinco de Mayo holiday weekend with the Tow to Go program that has safely removed more than 13,900 drunk drivers off the roads since it started in 1998. Anyone can call for a ‘Tow to Go’ ride Thursday, May 5 through Friday, May 6.

Tow to Go provides a confidential ride home and tow – FREE of charge – to anyone who may have had too much to drink and needs a ride from a bar or restaurant by simply calling 1-800-AAA-HELP.  Services are now offered throughout all of Florida, Georgia, and West and Middle Tennessee.

“Cinco de Mayo falls on a Thursday this year and it has become an increasingly popular holiday,” said Ed Schatzman, senior vice president, Automotive Services, AAA Auto Club South. “It is so important to not drive impaired if you plan to meet a few friends after work or attend a party, and if you find yourself in a compromising situation, use programs like Tow to Go so we will not lose anyone else on our roadways.” 

“The Tow to Go program is a simple and effective way to help prevent drunk driving,” said Kathy Casso, vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility, Anheuser-Busch.  “We are proud to join forces with AAA and their team of emergency roadside service drivers on this great designated-driver program that helps to keep our roads safe.”

Cinco de Mayo is an increasingly popular holiday in the United States and, like other holidays, it is often marked by parties and other celebrations, particularly by young adults. It has also become a dangerous day, with a significant number of impaired drivers getting behind the wheel according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

AAA and Budweiser encourage individuals to plan for a safe Cinco de Mayo by choosing a ‘Designated Driver’ or calling ‘Tow to Go’ for a safe ride home, rather than allowing anyone to drive whose sobriety is in question.

Designated Driver Planning Tips:

• Choose a designated driver who is not going to drink; select a driver at the beginning of the night
• Select your designated driver and turn over your keys before the party begins
• Program the numbers of cab companies in your cell phone before going out in case your designated driver doesn’t come through for you

AAA Auto Club South is the third largest affiliate of AAA, serves more than 4.1 million members in Florida, Georgia, Middle/West Tennessee, and Puerto Rico. Since its founding in 1938, AAA Auto Club South has worked to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve travel safety.

Call ‘Tow to Go’ for a FREE ride home for you and your vehicle if you find yourself unable to get a safe ride home: 1-800-AAA-HELP