With a wave of holiday parties on the horizon, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada is calling for Vancouver to embrace Uber and bring extra taxis on the roads.
Andrew Murie, CEO of MADD, said the more options drunken partiers have to get home, the less likely they are to get behind the wheel and drive themselves.
"There are complaints constantly of people wanting to do the right thing. They shouldn't be driving but they can't get a cab, and some communities don't allow ride-sharing so there's no way to get home," Murie told CTV News.
Both the B.C. government and Vancouver City Hall have been hesitant to welcome ride-hailing services such as Uber, and councillors recently voted to hold off until at least October 2017 as the province undergoes a lengthy consultation process.
"It's behind the times, almost dinosaur-type thinking," Murie said. "This whole thing should be a non-issue and it's very frustrating that it continues to be an issue."
MADD also criticized the city's decision to place a moratorium on new taxi licences for six months, starting in October. He said while an influx of cabs might be hard on the industry, finances shouldn't be the primary concern.
"The decision on how many taxi licences are available should be based on public safety, not on the economics of owning a taxi licence," Murie said.
City councillors have said that while they agree more services are needed, they want to see the results of B.C.'s consultations before making any decisions.
Over the holiday season, one other option available for partiers is Operation Red Nose, which will send a volunteer to drive people home in their own vehicle.
The service runs on Friday and Saturday nights from Nov. 25 to Dec. 17, and on New Year's Eve. Anyone who wants to request a ride can call 1-877-604-NOSE.
