During the holiday season, celebrations fill calendars across Omaha. But alongside the seasonal cheer comes a serious responsibility: making sure everyone gets home safely.
For Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop personal injury lawyers, that responsibility has been part of its identity for 35 years. Since 1990, the firm has sponsored the Safe Ride Home Program, which helps Nebraskans avoid drinking and driving by offering to pay car fares for those who have been socializing.
“When we started the program, we were looking for a way to give back to the community,” said Dave Cripe, managing partner at Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop. “As a personal injury firm, we’ve seen firsthand how devastating drunk driving can be, not just for families, but for the whole community. We wanted to do something proactive to prevent those tragedies before they happened.”
Safer roads, happy holidays
Nearly 34 people die every day in alcohol-related crashes and that number climbs during the holidays, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For Hauptman O’Brien, the Safe Ride Home Program is more than a seasonal promotion. It’s a core reflection of the firm’s mission to protect the community and prevent harm wherever possible.
“There was an obvious connection between the work we do and the need for a program like this,” Cripe said. “We know the consequences. We’ve represented families whose lives were changed forever by impaired driving. If a simple ride can prevent someone from making a dangerous choice, then it’s worth every penny.”
A transformative idea
When it began in 1990, the Safe Ride Home Program operated through free cab rides. Today, it runs seamlessly through Uber vouchers, accessible online and usable during designated evening hours throughout the season.
Over the years, the idea has grown into one of Omaha’s most widely recognized community safety initiatives. The firm now estimates they’ve sponsored more than 70,000 rides.
“We get handwritten notes, emails and messages every year from people thanking us,” Cripe says. “We also hear from folks who don’t need the ride themselves, but who tell us they feel safer knowing their community has this option.”
How it works
The Safe Ride Home Program is simple to use. Anyone in Douglas or Sarpy County who finds themselves unable to drive safely can visit the Safe Ride Home webpage, request a voucher and apply it directly in the Uber app. The vouchers can be used from December 12 to December 31.
The voucher covers up to $35 toward a ride home, which is enough to get most people anywhere they need to go within the metro area. The only rule: The ride must take you home — not to another bar or event. There is a limit of one voucher per person.
“At the end of the day, we just want people to get home safely. If this program helps someone make the right choice in a moment of celebration, then we’ve done what we set out to do,” said Cripe.
Click here to learn more about Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop and the Safe Ride Home Program.
