Everyone knows they should call a cab when they’ve had a few too many drinks. In a big city, it’s easy to walk to the nearest corner and hail a cab, but what if you’re in a more suburban or rural area? In order to combat one of the highest drunk driving fatality rates in the nation, the Texas Department of Transportation is using quick-response (QR) codes to help people call a cab. Restaurant and bar patrons can use their phone to scan the bar code, which will direct them to the website Choose Your Ride.
“We wanted people to find a cab and not get behind the wheel,” Mendez said. “We thought that would be a stepping point for us using these QR codes.” The site is designed to be easy to use. Clicking an image shaped like a taxicab activates a pop-up menu where users can input a city name or ZIP code and receive the numbers and locations of nearby cab services. Other icons help users find local limo services, walking paths and bus routes. Users also can contact sober drivers via Twitter or Facebook. Another icon, shaped like a badge, displays the nearest jail, lawyer or bail bondsman.
QR Codes Aim to Curb Drunken Driving in Texas
Representatives from the Texas DOT are banking on the fact that people continue to use their phones even when they are too intoxicated to drive. Men aged 18-34 are the target demographic for this pilot program. Do you think people are more likely to call a cab using this service?
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