Ride Safely for a Lifetime

National Saferides is a transportation company which provides an alternative to drinking and driving. 

For a donation of $25, anyone can become a lifetime member. You can use the non-for-profit organization's services whenever you're in a bad situation and need a ride. 

"We're looking to help people out when they are caught in a situation," said Gary Barrett, Founder/President of National Saferides.

The goal of the company is to save lives and increase better decision making. National Saferides will send cars to pick any members who are intoxicated or who do not want to drive with someone who has been drinking.

Underage students are allowed to use this service too. Although, the company does not encourage underage or excessive drinking, they are willing to help anyone who needs a safe ride home. Intoxicated or not, they will pick up those who feel they are in a dangerous situation and have no other way of getting home. The company often reminds the public that even one drink is too much to get behind the wheel. 

"It's very important we get the support from the person," Barrett explains. "It's just for insurance and registration purposes."

National Saferides, is not a free taxi service and makes it known they do not want to be taken advantage of.

The transportation service will drive seven days a week and within reasonable distance. If a customer needs to be driven an excessive distance like Manhattan to the Hamptons, National Saferides will help by getting the person more efficient transportation, such as the Long Island Railroad.

"We have to be careful so we can keep this service available to everyone," Barrett said.

It is a one time donation of $25 to join National Saferides for a lifetime membership. However, this promotion ends at the end of April, bringing the one time donation up to $100, which isn't bad considering your life could be at stake if you have one too many drinks and take a drive. 

"We're doing this as an essential promotion to try to get people to sign up as quickly as possible," Barrett said.

Besides the donations from potential members, the transportation service earns money through fundraisers. 

This Saturday, April 3rd, National Saferides will be at Charity Fight Night at Finest Fitness in Patchogue. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the first fight will begin at 7 p.m. All donations will go to increasing awareness and providing transportation. With every dollar raised toward National Saferides, a life will be saved.

 "Most of our advertising is through word-of-mouth," Barrett confirmed.

On March 27, the company attended The Spring Craft Beer Festival at Nassau Coliseum. The turn out was in the thousands but Barrett said he wished he had just a few more volunteers to help National Saferides promotion. 

"We're always looking for more volunteers to come help us out," he said.

To get involved, log onto their website or give their Bay Shore office a call. The company works off of its volunteers and without them this amazing service would not exist. 

Barrett called the organization amazing and says it will be a million dollar business within the next 18 months. As seen on nationalsaferides.org, Barrett says he "started National Saferides because it needed to be done."

So if you stumble out of Irish Times or had one too many at Momo's, think about calling National Saferides.

National Saferides is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Visit their website at nationalsaferides.org, call them at 338-1694, or become a fan of their Facebook page, National Saferides Inc., to become a member. Allow 24 hours for the company to properly insert you into their database.