Ways to Participate:

• A Safe Holiday Season Tree, decorated with yellow lights has been placed next to the Beverly Hills Ice Skating Rink. The tree is a helpful reminder to be safe this holiday season. Spread the word to your friends and family to look out for the tree and to make smart and safe decisions.

• Sign the Holiday Pledge. Walk the Walk, not just Talk the Talk by being positive role models. Pledge to be a responsible citizen and driver throughout the year, but especially during the holidays.

The goal of this campaign is to encourage safety during the holiday season, particularly as it relates to alcohol-use and driving. This is a Citywide challenge to citizens to be responsible during this time of year. ‘Tis the Season to be Safe reminds us that every person is accountable for his or her choices and behaviors.

Take the Holiday Pledge and be safe this holiday season!

Safe Rides are available on Friday and Saturday nights from 10:00 pm to 2:00 am for teens living in Beverly Hills. High school students can call for a free ride home when they are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. When the teenager calls the Safe Ride number (888) 654-3211, the TMCC counselor assigned to the 24-hour HELP-LINE arranges for that teen to be picked up by the Beverly Hills Cab Company and taken home. Services are confidential.

Statistics on drinking in the US:

• Drunk drivers are responsible for 200,000 deaths each year
• Eight young people die every day from alcohol-related incidents. It is the No. 1 killer of teenagers in America.
• The total cost to our society because of drunk driving-related incidents is now approaching $150 billion per year!
• To reach a blood-alcohol level of .08, it only takes 2 drinks (two cans of beer, two wine coolers, or two1-ounce glasses of whiskey) for the average adult man or woman.