Melissa Donovan
To promote safer travel during one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year, AAA is reactivating its Tow to Go program across select states for Labor Day 2025. The initiative will run from 6:00 PM on Friday, August 29, through 6:00 AM on Tuesday, September 2, offering free, confidential rides to impaired drivers and their vehicles within a 10-mile radius.
Since launching more than 25 years ago, Tow to Go has played a critical role in reducing impaired driving crashes, having removed nearly 30,000 drivers under the influence from the road. By providing this service over Labor Day—a weekend that traditionally sees a surge in travel—AAA emphasizes its mission to help prevent alcohol-related tragedies, which remain a leading cause of roadway fatalities.
“Labor Day is meant for celebration, not tragedy,” Stephanie Milani, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group, said in a press release. “Impaired driving accounts for one-third of all traffic deaths year-round. Simple actions like planning a designated driver or using programs like ‘Tow to Go’ can save lives. At AAA, we are committed to offering this critical safety lifeline to protect families and prevent needless loss during the holiday.”
How the ‘Tow to Go’ Program Works
When: Available from 6:00 PM Friday, August 29, to 6:00 AM Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
Where: Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, Nebraska, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Colorado (Denver), North Carolina (Charlotte), and Indiana (Fort Wayne/South Bend).
What’s Provided: A free, confidential ride for impaired drivers and a tow for their vehicle to a safe location within a 10-mile radius.
Who Can Use It: Open to both AAA members and non-members.
Limitations: The service cannot be reserved in advance and is intended only as a last resort when no other safe transportation options are available.
Why Programs Like ‘Tow to Go’ Matter
Drunk driving continues to be a leading traffic safety issue in the United States:
Nearly one-third of all U.S. traffic deaths involve alcohol-impaired drivers.
In 2023, more than 12,000 lives were lost in alcohol-related crashes—equivalent to one death every 42 minutes.
AAA encourages holiday travelers to plan ahead by arranging a designated driver, using rideshare services, or staying overnight where they celebrate. Programs like Tow to Go provide a critical safety net, but the organization stresses that proactive planning is the most effective way to keep roads safe.
By combining responsible decision-making with community resources, AAA hopes to make Labor Day weekend 2025 safer for drivers, passengers, and families across the country.
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