The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) celebrates 32 years of providing free, safe, and sober rides home to those ringing in the New Year in Nashville. The project aims to save lives and is completely run by DCSO employee volunteers. Those in the downtown area who need a sober ride should go to the pick-up location at Second Avenue and Church Street.
“For 32 years now, employees from the sheriff’s office have offered sober rides home to those who have had too much to drink. All you have to do is go to our pick-up location at Second Avenue and Church Street,” Nashville-Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall said. “The Sober Ride program is a Nashville tradition and we are proud to continue offering this free service year after year. Residents and visitors alike should make the right decision and choose a sober ride.”
All drivers are sheriff’s office employees and many of the dozens of volunteers have made Sober Ride their New Year’s Eve tradition. Volunteers took more than 500 people home last year. Drivers will take people home or to a hotel, not to another party or bar, and serves Davidson County only. Operating hours are from 10 p.m. New Year’s Eve until 2 a.m. New Year’s Day. No reservations accepted.
“Nashville is a top destination city for New Year’s Eve, so we will have a lot of tourists and locals celebrating. Local band Kings of Leon and artists such as Chris Stapleton and Kelsea Ballerini will all be taking stage downtown at the Bash on Broadway,” Hall added. “We want everyone to have a fantastic night; however, the most important decision you can make this holiday – or any day for that matter – is to not drink and drive. Anyone drinking this New Year’s Eve should choose a sober ride, arrive home safely, and stay out of our jail.”
Hall encourages anyone in the downtown area to make alternative plans for a sober ride. Adding it’s “virtually impossible” to effectively move many people out of the downtown area when crowd expectations are projected to be well over 100,000.
