Holiday safe ride program offered limited Uber vouchers for Thanksgiving
As families prepared for Thanksgiving, local officials promoted a safe ride program offering discounted Uber trips to discourage impaired driving. The campaign provided a limited number of voucher discounts for residents in Bernalillo, Sandoval and Santa Fe counties during the holiday weekend.
Local officials and transportation partners rolled out a short term safe ride initiative over the Thanksgiving holiday that aimed to reduce impaired driving on busy roads. From 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26 through 2 a.m. Monday, Dec. 1 residents in Bernalillo, Sandoval and Santa Fe counties could open the Uber app and enter the voucher code NMTURKEY25 to receive up to ten dollars off two rides. The program was limited to 2,500 rides and operated on a first come, first served basis, according to reporting by KOAT Action 7 News.
The offer covered communities across Sandoval County, including the Rio Rancho area, and was timed as families gathered for holiday meals and travel. Organizers described the effort as a practical step to discourage people from getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol during a traditionally high risk period for impaired driving. KOAT updated its coverage on Nov. 26 to provide the code and the redemption window so residents could claim discounted trips while the vouchers remained available.
For Sandoval County drivers and passengers the promotion created an accessible, low cost alternative to driving when plans changed or when celebrating with alcohol. The limit of 2,500 discounted rides meant the benefit could be exhausted quickly, so availability likely varied across the three counties as demand rose over the long weekend. Offering two discounted rides per user extended the option for both outbound and return trips for many households.
While the program addressed a specific holiday window, its immediate impact rested on individual choices to use the rides instead of driving impaired. Local officials and safety advocates have used similar short term incentives in past holiday periods to encourage safer travel, and the Thanksgiving voucher program was one of several strategies aimed at reducing crashes and protecting families. Residents looking for safe alternatives on future holidays should watch for announcements from county officials and transportation partners, and plan ahead so safe ride options are available when needed.
