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New service aims to get you and your car home safely

BY BECKY MALKOVICH, THE SOUTHERN

Saturday, December 27, 2008 10:34 PM CST

BENTON - Revelers who revel a bit too much might want to give a new designated driver service a try this New Year's Eve.

Southern Illinois Designated Drivers will launch its service Wednesday, Grady Adams of the new company said. The service offers a way home not only for a driver who may have had too much to drink, but also for the driver's vehicle.

"If you need our assistance, wherever you are in Southern Illinois, we can come pick you up," Adams said. "Once we are dispatched to a call, two drivers will come to you in an escort car. The designated driver drives your car home while the escort car follows. It's a way to get you and your car home safely."

Adams said the service comes at a time when DUI laws are getting stiffer.

Beginning Jan. 1, the state's Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device program will be automatic for all first-time DUI offenders wishing to drive during statutory summary suspension.

The device reads a person's blood alcohol level and requires a driver to provide a breath sample before starting the car and at random intervals during the drive. If the driver has a blood alcohol content of .05 or higher, the vehicle will not start.

More importantly, Adams said, the SIDD service will help protect the lives of impaired motorists and those who share the roadway.

While New Year's Eve is the debut of the service, SIDD will continue to operate after the holiday during the peak drinking hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Within four months, the service is expected to begin operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, he said.

For now, cost of the service is $50 for trips within 20 miles from the location of pickup. For trips longer than 20 miles, $5 will be tacked on for each additional 10 miles, he said. Pricing could change after the service is up and running, Adams said.

For more information, call 438-0410.

beckymalk@gmail.com / 927-5633