LOS ANGELES, March 10, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BeMyDD (Be My Designated Driver), the nation's largest designated driver service, today announced its upcoming five-year anniversary since its founding on St. Patrick's Day 2010. In honor of its five year anniversary the company will be offering five dollars off each hour of its Personal Driver service for new customers who book for St. Patrick's Day by March 13, 2015 using promo code: Five.
The National Highway Safety Administration has declared St. Patrick's Day as one on the deadliest days in the United States due to a spike in drunk-driving fatalities. The latest released data shows 40 percent of all crash fatalities involved drunk drivers on this day in 2013. The figures rose to 55 percent of all crash fatalities between the hours of midnight and 5:59 AM. Almost three-fourths of the drunk driving fatalities on St. Patrick's Day involved drivers who were twice the .08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) legal limit and more than 276 people have died on this day between 2009-2013.*
"St. Patrick's Day brings to mind shamrocks, leprechauns, pots of gold and good luck. But no amount of luck can save you if you are driving buzzed, said Arthur Simanovsky, BeMyDD president and CEO. "More than 10,000 people die each year in our country, as a result of drunk-drivers. At BeMyDD we are taking a stand to stop this on one of the deadliest days of the year, St. Patrick's Day, with deep discounts on our designated driver services – so there is no excuse to drive intoxicated."
Two college graduates, living and working in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio founded BeMyDD on St. Patrick's Day 2010. They had the idea to offer consumers an affordable designated driver service so that friends could go out and have a good time without having to flip a coin to appoint a designed driver. The service quickly expanded outside of Cleveland, Ohio and grew to more than 76 cities today. The Company has also not had a single claim on its insurance policy since its founding. BeMyDD provides primary insurance while operating its customers cars which includes theft protection as well as a US$2 million commercial auto policy that covers its customers' vehicles and rental cars if a BeMyDD driver is at fault.
BeMyDD offers an alternative to ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft, with a range of affordable services where professional, experienced chauffeurs operate the customer's own vehicle. Services are priced at pre-determined rates free of surge pricing or other surprise fees.
BeMyDD offers a Personal Driver Service, where a professional driver arrives at the client's home and chauffeurs them anywhere they want to go using the client's own car. Making multiple stops if necessary, the driver waits in the car and takes the client back home when they are ready. The Personal Driver Service costs US$14-US$19.50/hour, depending on geography, and has a three-hour minimum. Reservations for this service need to be made ahead of time through BeMyDD.com, by calling +1 (877) U-BeMyDD (823-6933), or by downloading and using the mobile app (iOS and Android).
If an individual has driven to a location and does not want to drive home, they can contact BeMyDD and make a reservation using the BeMyDD mobile app for the company's Pick-Up Service. The service costs US$25 for pick-up and US$3.45 per mile with a US$45 minimum. As part of BeMyDD's Pick-Up Service, the company will dispatch two drivers, one to take the client and their car home and a second to follow behind to retrieve the BeMyDD driver.
The average age of a BeMyDD driver is 51, and the company requires every driver to have at least 10 years of professional driving experience, complete an in-person interview and undergo very comprehensive background checks. Many drivers hold a commercial driver's license (CDL).
To ensure a "white glove" customer experience, BeMyDD operates a U.S.-based customer service center that clients can contact to make reservations, confirm details, and ask questions about the service or a driver. The service center operates 9 AM to midnight EST Sunday through Thursday and 9 AM to 2 AM EST Friday and Saturday. Customers are also able to request specific drivers whom they have hired in the past with BeMyDD. Additionally, women are able to request a female driver if they so prefer.
More information on the BeMyDD St. Patrick's Day promotion can be found at www.BeMyDD.com/five.
About BeMyDD
Founded in 2010, BeMyDD (Be My Designated Driver) is the nation's largest designated driver service, currently operating in 76 markets in 31 states. This convenient, safe, reliable and affordable alternative transportation service provides a chauffeur at a discounted rate by driving the customer's automobile. Professional, experienced drivers are fully background-screened, interviewed and insured by ByMyDD and wear formal business attire. The company has national partnerships with leading liquor and wine companies such as Brown-Forman to promote social responsibility. To schedule a professional driver, go to BeMyDD.com, call +1 (877) U-BeMyDD (823-6933), or download the mobile app. To learn more, visit www.BeMyDD.com and follow us on Facebook; LinkedIn; Google+; YouTube; Instagram and Twitter.
Contact:
Michael E. Donner
EVP, Chief Marketing Officer
mdonner@BeMyDD.com
+1 (561) 406 9090
* http://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/saintpatricksday
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=31317
