Yakima Youth Prefer Safe Rides—Campaign Promotes Planning Ahead

Despite what some may think, officials from Safe Yakima Valley say a majority of young people in Yakima drive sober.

CELEBRATING THE TRUTH

Officials from Safe Yakima Valley say they've collaborated with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission to launch a public awareness campaign called "Catch a Ride, Not a DUI - Most Drive Sober." The campaign celebrates the truth that most young people in the county make responsible choices when it comes to drinking and driving.

CORRECTING WHAT YOU MAY THINK

So if the campaign celebrates what's happening why create the campaign? Safe Yakima Valley officials say they want to correct common misperceptions about impaired driving and reinforce the fact that a majority of young people choose to drive sober. Marketing the campaign and talking about it with young people helps also helps to reinforce the positive behavior while also encouraging safe choices like planning ahead, calling Uber or having a designated driver.

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ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO CARE FOR FRIENDS

The campaign also hopes to get more young people to look out for friends by preventing friends and loved ones from driving impaired.
A press release says the campaign features information from the 2025 Yakima County Anonymous Impaired Driving Survey, which gathered responses from over 300 local young adults ages 16-26, many of whom identified as American Indian/Alaska Native or Hispanic. The results show young people are making great decisions.

•       94% do not drive impaired

•       9 out of 10 disapprove of their peers driving impaired

•       87% plan ahead to catch a ride with a sober friend or rideshare

•       85% feel comfortable stepping in to prevent someone from driving impaired
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