WICHITA, Kansas --On this icy New Year's Eve AAA is not only helping stranded drivers, they're partnering to make sure those out celebrating the holiday get home safely.
How you can avoid becoming a statistic.
"We're looking for a red Ford Ranger. There it is," says AAA battery check tech Dale Hein, who is out year-round helping drivers get where they're going.
On days like today when the weather takes a turn...
"Hopefully the roads aren't too slick for tonight...the motorists, hopefully they keep the cruise control off," says Hein.
...his work is extra important.
"They don't check their blades, batteries, they don't do preventive maintenance before weather hits and then its too late and they're stuck stranded somewhere," explains Hein.
Now that it's New Year's Eve, AAA is partnering with Old Town and Best Cab Company.
They're upping their game.
"Due to the freezing that's gonna happen, due to the fact that it's New Year's Eve. There's gonna be partying going on. Not only watch out for yourself but watch out for all traffic on the road," says Wichita's AAA supervisor Bryan Page.
Tonight anyone enjoying New Year festivities can call an 800 number and get a free, no questions asked, safe ride home.
"We would prefer that anybody that's had so much as a single drink, we prefer you call our 1-800-AAA-help and ask for a ride home because you're too impaired to drive," explains Page.
The service will take you home, not to another party.
"It's definitely worth the wait to get a safe ride home is better than taking a risk of being a casualty," reminds Page.
In the meantime, AAA trucks will still be standing by to help drivers navigate the hazards of winter in Kansas.
"They're very happy," says Hein.
Again the number for a safe and free ride home is 1-800-AAA-help.
The rides start at 10 p.m and run through 6 a.m.
