Safe Ride offers an alternative to driving under the influence. The program was started in 1984 by Gunn and Palo Alto High School (Paly) students because of the alcohol-related accident in which Paly senior Scott Sanfreed died when his car was hit by an inebriated sophomore. Safe Ride can be reached at 877-753-RIDE every Friday and Saturday.

After receiving a call volunteers respond in two person teams. To get a ride all the information required is the name of your school. Most volunteers are from Paly, Gunn, Los Altos High School, St. Francis High School, Mountain View High School, Castilleja School and Menlo School. Safe Drive now offers rides to and from the following locations: Atherton, Woodside, Menlo Park, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Portola Valley, Los Altos Hills and Moffett Field.

Safe Ride was in a slump in the number of callers. However, after Anna Gail Caunca took over three years ago as Safe Ride Director, there has been an incredible increase in the number of calls.

Last year’s November Safe Ride only received six calls and gave six rides but this year they received 38 calls and gave 43 individuals rides. “In the past years, rather than reforms it is more about Safe Ride having a solid foundation of student volunteers,” Caunca said. “They work very hard to get volunteers and to keep everything running.”

Although underage drinking is illegal, it is reassuring to parents and students, knowing that there is a safe alternative to riding in a car whose driver is under the influence.

“I think that underage drinking is going to happen anyways whether the state allows it or not,” senior Safe Ride coordinator for Gunn James Muscarella said. “We are giving the kids that choose to drink the option of not driving under the influence.”