A new UF student organization aims to ensure that partying students will have better access to a designated driver.
Gator Ride, a student-run drunken driving prevention program, will give students free rides home on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, said Lindsay Keller, who started the organization.
"I thought it was interesting that when I started doing this project, there wasn't any other student-run drunk driving prevention program," Keller said.
Unlike the Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol, another UF driving service, Gator Ride plans to drive people both on and off campus.
Keller, a health science junior, said that while SNAP is funded by students' tuition, Gator Ride will be run entirely by students and sponsored by local businesses.
The Center for Student Involvement approved Gator Ride last month, and the organization hopes to begin operating toward the end of the semester.
Keller said organizers first want to have a test run, then take time over the summer to fix any issues before the fall semester.
Gator Ride will only drop students off at their homes, she said.
"We don't want to encourage more drinking by dropping off people from party to party," she said.
Organizers plan to use vehicles from a local rental company, and won't use any vehicles provided by UF.
The organization will also purchase several types of insurance and liability waivers to ensure safety and provide adequate risk management procedures, Keller said.
Although Gator Ride will need many sponsors to successfully run in Gainesville, members believe that the program can be highly successful.
Racheal Cobb, UF student and director of public relations for Gator Ride, wants the program to be beneficial to both UF and the Gainesville community.
"It was very apparent that we needed this service," Cobb said. "Even if we prevent only one person from an accident by using Gator Ride, I think it's worth it."
