MADD, Uber want to make Thanksgiving eve safer

MIAMI - DECEMBER 15: Trooper David Casillas, from the Florida Highway Patrol, talks to a driver at a DUI checkpoint December 15, 2006 in Miami, Florida. The city of Miami, with the help of other police departments, will be conducting saturation patrols and setting up checkpoints during the holiday period looking to apprehend drivers for impaired driving and other traffic violations. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

BOSTON — Mothers Against Drunk Driving and ride-hailing company Uber have partnered to offer free rides in the greater Boston area and Rhode Island on the day before Thanksgiving.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is known as "Blackout Wednesday" because it's one of the heaviest drinking days of the year.

[ Police: Mother arrested for driving drunk, crashing with 2 children in SUV ]

MADD and Uber say they want to cut down on drunken driving and make sure everyone can get home safely.

Mary Kate Depamphilis of MADD Massachusetts says Thanksgiving is a time of joyous celebration that can serve as a catalyst for drunken driving tragedies.

Persis Elavia, Uber's General Manager for New England, says the company wants people to make Uber their designated driver.

The deal is for rides up to $15 and applies from 9 p.m. Wednesday until 6 a.m. Thanksgiving Day.

[ State police trooper pulls cruiser into path of wrong-way driver ]