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TRANSPORTATION

Designated drivers scoot to bring driver, car safely home

Bellingham couple start Sober Rovers

RACHEL E. BAYNE THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

Learning from a mistake he made six years ago, J.R. Johnson founded Sober Rovers, a designated driver for hire business. When a person who has had too much to drink calls Sober Rovers, the company will send a driver on a motorized scooter to their location. The scooter folds up and can be stored in the trunk or back seat of the car, and after checking for proof of car insurance, the driver takes the customer home.

DAVE GALLAGHER
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

Six years ago J.R. Johnson made a big mistake when he decided to drive some of his inebriated friends home from the bars.

He got pulled over by the police, and it turned out he was just over the legal limit. He received a DUI citation for his mistake.

"I was shocked, because I thought I was doing my friends a favor by not letting them get behind the wheel. I didn't have much to drink, so I thought I was fine," said Johnson. "It wasn't until afterwards that I discovered that drinking only two beers in an hour can put people over the legal limit."

LEARN MORE

Sober Rovers

Founded: Oct. 22

Owners: J.R. Johnson and Xan Oltman Johnson

What they do: Provide a designated-driver for hire service, taking an intoxicated person and the car home safely.

Cost: $2 fee, then $4 per mile.

Contact information: 734-9111

To help others avoid the bad decision he made, Johnson and his wife, Xan Oltman Johnson, started Sober Rovers. The company uses professional drivers to help solve one of the big hassles that result from drinking too much - getting the person and the vehicle home.

When a person who has had too much to drink calls Sober Rovers, the company will send a driver on a motorized scooter to their location. The scooter folds up and can be stored in the trunk or back seat of the car, and after checking for proof of car insurance, the driver takes the customer home. Sober Rovers drivers charge $2 for the pickup and then $4 per mile.

"Many bad decisions are made because people don't want to leave their car downtown and call a taxi, whether it is because they need the car the next morning or it is parked in a spot that would get it towed," Xan Johnson said. "People want an alternative to calling a taxi or driving home drunk."

Although the business started just a few weeks ago, it is already getting a good reception from bar and restaurant owners. Liz von Krusenstiern, owner of Cap Hansen's Tavern in Bellingham, said she has called Sober Rovers several times for her customers.

"Customers often worry about how to get their car home, and the drivers are very efficient and get here quickly," von Krusenstiern said. "They are also great people who know how to handle themselves."

Deb Logan, manager of Yellow Cab taxi service, also liked the idea even if it makes Sober Rovers a competitor.

"In my opinion, anything that can be done to get more drunk drivers off the road is a good thing," Logan said. "I'm happy they're doing it."

The concept of a designated-driver for hire is being used in larger cities such as Denver and London. The Johnsons think it can work in Bellingham because people will pay for the convenience.

"What is important for us to do is build trust in the community," Xan Johnson said. "After all, we are asking customers to hand their car keys over to a stranger."

To help build that trust, each driver has his or her five-year driving record on hand. If the driver happens to be involved in a crash and it is the fault of Sober Rovers' employee, the company will pay for the costs of the crash as well as the increased insurance premium for a year.

Right now the Johnsons field the calls and J.R. Johnson is one of the company's two drivers. They both juggle this business with their other jobs as teachers.

"We get many of our calls at 2 a.m., so we've learned to take naps in between calls and work," Xan Johnson said. "As we grow, we plan on hiring someone to handle more of the dispatch work so we're not as involved in all aspects of the business."

The company's big test will come next month as they expect the holidays to be busy.

"It will be a challenge if we get a lot of calls on New Year's Eve, but we've been planning for some time to make sure it works," J.R. Johnson said. "What is important is to make sure we provide a great service that keeps people from making the same mistake I did."

Reach Dave Gallagher at 715-2269 or dave.gallagher@bellinghamherald.com.

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