A claim that the American Automobile Association (AAA) will provide a service to drive drunk people home from New Year’s celebrations is untrue. Although the AAA has provided this service in limited areas in previous years, they do not offer the service for celebrations in 2021.
A screenshot (here) of a tweet that has just been removed (here) by Jessica Barajas reads: “No apologies. Do not drink and drive; and do not ride with anyone. Tipsy Tow presented by AAA: You do not have to be a AAA member, from 18:00 to 06:00 on New Year’s Eve / Day they take your drunk self and your car home for FREE. Save this number 1-800-222-4357. RT to save a life. ”
The tweet was widely shared (here) before New Year’s celebrations in 2017 and screenshots of the tweet were posted on Facebook that year (here) and in subsequent years (here).
Copies of the screenshot were also posted ahead of the celebration of the new year this year, which received more than a thousand shares on Facebook (here and here). AAA told Reuters in an email: “This year, the AAA Holiday Safe Ride program (also known as Tipsy Tow in some areas) is not offered in any state.” The phone number that appears on the screenshot is that of the AAA emergency service (here). When Reuters called this number to inquire about services to drive drunk people home, they confirmed that such a nationwide program was not available.
The AAA website presents a list created by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (here) with safe driving programs in the United States. However, the NHTSA told Reuters by email that the information on the page was not up to date.
VERDICT
Untrue. The AAA does not have a “tow trail” or safe ride program to drive drunk revealers home in the new year 2021.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our work to actually check social media posts.