Reston residents celebrating Halloween with alcohol can get a free Lyft ride home on Friday, Oct. 30, or Saturday, Oct. 31.

The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) is running its Halloween SoberRide program both nights from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., according to a WRAP press release. Fairfax County falls within the program's coverage area.

Adults 21 and older can download the Lyft app, then enter a promo code under the "Payment" tab using the "Add Lyft Pass" option. Each code is good for one free ride worth up to $15. Riders whose fares exceed $15 are responsible for the difference.

WRAP said it will post each night's promo code at 9 p.m. on SoberRide.com. A limited number of free rides are available each night.

The hours are shorter than last year, when the program ran from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. both nights, Patch reported.

Why it matters

WRAP President Kurt Erickson pointed to federal crash data in a statement announcing the program.

"Over a third of U.S. traffic fatalities during Halloween involve drunk drivers according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration," Erickson said. "Halloween is of particular concern for younger drivers as NHTSA data also shows that, between 2019 and 2024, 54-percent of 21 to 34-year-olds killed in U.S. traffic crashes during that period involved drunk drivers."

Separately, WRAP's release cited a 2024 NHTSA figure of 29.2% for the share of all U.S. traffic deaths involving drunk drivers, not just on Halloween. NHTSA puts the overall national average at about 30%.

Record use last year

Last October, a record 4,056 people in the Washington area used SoberRide on Halloween weekend. That was the highest single-campaign total in the program's 35-year history, according to WRAP. Since 1991, the program has provided 105,069 free rides.

Coverage area and how to ride

In Northern Virginia, SoberRide covers Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties, plus the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park. The program also covers the District of Columbia, Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland, and cities within those jurisdictions.

Promo codes go live at 9 p.m. each night at SoberRide.com.