WPCNR MAMARONECK Avenue Rambler. December 8, 2006 UPDATED DECEMBER 9, 2006: Operation Safe Ride, sponsored by Heineken USA, announced Friday by Mayor Joseph Delfino has contributed to a remarkable White Plains statistic: White Plains Police have made only 6 Arrests for Driving While Intoxicated on the last four New Years Eves.

Mayor Joseph Delfino, Westchester District Attorney Janet Defiore, Dr. Timothy Haydock of White Plains Hospital Medical Center, and Carole Sears, a victim of a drunk driving accident from Mothers Against Drunk Driving announced that Heineken USA would again be sponsoring and paying for Safe Rides via White Plains taxicabs for persons over 21, celebrating New Year's Eve in White Plains who feel they should not drive home.

The program has been very successful in preventing drunken drivers from taking to the streets on the year's number one party night. Last New Years Eve, 24 "Safe Rides" were given out. White Plains Police report that overnight from the evening of Dec. 31 to January 1, 2006, there was only Driving While Intoxicated arrest (plus the 24 Safe Rides which privented perhaps 24 would-be accidents from happening).

In the four years Safe Ride has been operating in White Plains, Police have made just 6 DWI arrests ( 1 in 05-06, 2 in 004-05, 2 in 03/04, and 1 in 02/03), according to the White Plains Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Daniel Jackson 

Last year 24 persons asked for vouchers available at restaurants and bars participating in the program. The Mayor pointed out that meant possibly 24 accidents had been prevented. Photo, WPCNR News

Ms. Sears harrowingly depicted her tragic experience as a victim of a drunk driver, how she came to, realizing the bones of her legs were sticking out, and her husband was trapped behind the wheel. She described how nurses in the hospital where she was treated kept telling her her husband's progress, but that she never spoke with him again after they entered the hospital. She begged persons to consider the vouchers to prevent ruining a family's life as her family life had been ruined. Photo, WPCNR News

Dr. Haydock told the experience of how he was about to treat a victim of an accident in the White Plains emergency room, only to discover it was the child of a neighbor of his, and he had to tell the neighbor of the child's death. He said he has never forgotten it.

Tamara Moore of Heneken USA, sponsor of the program, said Heineken would be reviewing the program with some 30 White Plains establishments in coming weeks before New Years Eve, and said that bartenders and waitresses could suggest vouchers to patrons who have possibly had too much to drink as a courtesy.