Police Step Up Patrols On Thanksgiving Eve; Many Turning To Ride-Sharing Services
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Police are stepping up patrols across the area on this night before the Thanksgiving holiday.
Thanksgiving Eve is now the number one night for drunk driving, and police officers are trying to keep everyone safe.
The drinks were being poured, and people of all ages were enjoying good company Wednesday night at Cupka's Café on the South Side.
"It's a fun night. You see all your high school buddies and everybody is home for the big weekend," Dustin Miller, of Bon Air, said.
With everybody home for Thanksgiving, the bars fill up fast for what's notoriously known as the biggest drinking night of the year. Justin Scarfo served as a designated driver.
"Yeah, I'll be worried about people being a little too intoxicated, but just take it slow and you'll get there," Scarfo, of Saxonburg, said.
But concerns about drunk drivers have dropped since ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft debuted.
During 2015, the first full year of Uber, authorities in Allegheny County made 3,284 DUI arrests, down 18 percent from 4,004 in 2014 and 4,118 in 2013.
"I've certainly noticed people with no business driving aren't driving anymore," Phil Turkas, a bartender at Piper's Pub, said.
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"There are stats sent out to us on how we help people get home and prevent drunk driving," Uber driver Rob Burns said.
"It's a lot cheaper than, obviously, a DUI, which could be right around $10,000 probably more. It's $7bucks to go back to my house," Miller said.