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Free Tipsy Taxi Service To Serve Baltimore On New Year's

BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- A free cab ride will be just a call away early on New Year's Day for those who need to get home safely.

As Mike Schuh reports, it's expected nearly 200 people will take advantage of the offer.

Last year, four motorists died due to alcohol-related crashed on New Year's Day. Also, 193 motorists in Maryland spent the first day of 2011 in jail charged with DUIs.

So when the new year starts with too much alcohol in the system-- similar to a program run for other holidays-- the idea is to get folks home safely.

"We will be providing via the Tipsy Taxi service, free cab rides for anyone drinking in a Baltimore City bar or restaurant," Ragina Averella of AAA said. "Obviously, it's a program that we've created to decrease impaired driving on the roadways."

Federal figures show that on average, over a 10-year period, 142 motorists will die on New Year's Day, making it the fifth most dangerous day of the year for motorists.

But here's the surprise-- the most dangerous day of the year for pedestrians is New Year's Day, where it is projected that 410 will die.

Tipsy Taxi runs through 4 a.m. on New Year's. It covers rides up to $50.

Metro, light rail and the circulator all will run until 1 a.m. on New Year's Day.

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