OCALA, FL (352today.com) – AAA is preparing for a hectic Thanksgiving holiday weekend, anticipating more than 570,000 calls for roadside assistance from drivers experiencing car trouble. To promote safety and prevent impaired driving, The Auto Club Group will launch its free Tow to Go program beginning Wednesday evening.

The program, active from 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, to 6 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2, is available in Florida. It provides a confidential ride for impaired drivers and their vehicles to a safe destination within a 10-mile radius. AAA emphasizes that Tow to Go should only be used as a last resort, but it is free to anyone in need, regardless of AAA membership.

“Tow to Go serves as that last line of defense in keeping impaired drivers off the road,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “If you plan to consume alcohol or drugs this weekend, make plans for a safe ride home first. If your plans fall through, you can call AAA, and we’ll get you to a safe place.”

The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with AAA forecasting a record-breaking 71.7 million Americans taking road trips. However, the combination of alcohol and crowded roads can lead to deadly consequences. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 830 people died in crashes involving a drunk driver during Thanksgiving weekends from 2017 to 2021.

The Tow to Go program has been a safety initiative for over 25 years, removing nearly 30,000 impaired drivers from U.S. roads. When called, a tow truck is dispatched to transport the driver and their vehicle to a safe location, helping prevent potential accidents.

Key Program Details
  • Phone Number: (855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246
  • Free and available to members and non-members.
  • Confidential ride for one person and their vehicle to a location within 10 miles.
  • Cannot be scheduled in advance; designed as a safety net for unplanned situations.
  • May not be available in rural areas or during severe weather conditions.

For those planning to celebrate, AAA advises arranging a designated driver or using ride-sharing services. If all else fails, Tow to Go offers a critical safety option to keep impaired drivers off the road.