To whomever is reading this,
I would like to take this opportunity and introduce myself as the founder of Safe Rides Unlimited. If you got a late night phone call, as I did, informing you that a dear friend, or perhaps someone in your family had just died in an alcohol related accident I can only imagine how distraught you might be at that point. When this happened to me I was devastated! For days I couldn’t think straight, I couldn’t work effectively, and I crawled into a hole. I realized though there are many organizations providing victim services there were none or very few that were physically and effectively preventing the tragedies from happening. Then, I decided to “make lemonade out of a lemon.”
I formed the Safe Rides Unlimited a not for profit organization with several friends in 2004. Until now then there had not been an organization that is able to produce results like SRU. Already we keep more then 300 drunk drivers off the road every week! That’s over 1200 people we physically prevent every month from driving drunk by providing them with sensible, efficient and cost effective safe ride alternatives. AND THE NUMBERS ARE GROWING!!!
The SRU Program works like this:
• Our current safe ride users and new users going out to a restaurant, bar, or club call our 888 number and arrange to be picked up by SRU approved transportation from their house and delivered to their particular establishment and then back home later. The transportation is provided by a network of transportation affiliates at an extremely discounted rate to make it cost effective and appealing as an effective alternative. What makes this most effective is that SRU works with the establishments to offer incentives for using safe rides. Incentives such as no cover charges at some of the most popular bars/clubs in the tri-sate along
with avoiding to wait on lines. This is a simple and direct (practical) program that, thus far, has met with great success. But, we can and must do better!
Benefits:
1. The roundtrip completely eliminates their vehicle from their plans of night out.
2. Safe Ride Users Save money by not paying for gas, cover charges, parking, tolls etc.
3. SRU helps people to plan ahead with their friends and make all arrangements for them.
4. Bars are able to offer this to their current customers to utilize and to others that now can come to their establishment without the worries of drunk driving.
To any reasonable person the benefits are obvious as there are way too many to list.
The mission I undertook was not an easy one. I started this organization with a vision and a promise made to myself of never loosing the dedication to find alternatives to drunk driving that could save lives now and in the future. I had to make many personal sacrifices but I personally assure you I have not lost my drive. Today I can walk with my head high knowing how many of my peers appreciate these sacrifices, and show their appreciation by making the right decision for themselves and using safe rides with their friends.
Thank you,
Amanat M. Sattar
Founder
Safe Rides Unlimited
O. 888-656-SAFE
F. 973-582-0595
www.SafeRidesUnlimited.org
