Thoughts on Designated Drivers

I know that I post a lot of stuff about parties on here, but IMO, this topic isn’t that bad.

The idea came up after finding out that some of them can make between $40-50-60 a night based on $1 per person for a one way trip. Every week, you can make an easy $100 if you do it on Friday And Saturday. Now, this comes with a lot of responsibility, but from what I’ve experienced, it’s not a hard job. You just have to know your way around campus, it’s as simple as that. You can also have a friend join you so one can text and one can drive.

After talking to my parents about this, they don’t think that it’s a good idea for me because someone might throw up in my car and the drunk people can distract me from driving. I don’t have my car up here yet, but, I probably would follow my parents instructions because I don’t want to disobey them. But sometimes, the money struggle is real and you might have to do some things in order to help yourself out:

Getting an actual job vs. helping people get home safely (and getting paid for it) - take your pick

Overall, Uber & Lyft cost more than DDing if the rate is as cheap as a $1 per person. Furthermore, Uber or Lyft would be my last option if it’s too far of a walk for me or if no one’s DDing that night.

On an extra note, I’ll have plastic bags or a bucket in my car just in case if someone gets sick. Distractions, on the other hand, may not bother me that much.

I would not want my kid driving drunk strangers in my car. If I were your parents I would say absolutely no.

I think you should just give up on attending an parties till the semester is over and focus on your school work. Last I remember you are not doing too great in school.

As much as I would like to do it, the risk is too high if something happened to my car in the form of a drunken mistake.

But, DDing compares to Uber & Lyft, so maybe joining those companies would be a better option for me.

So, maybe I’ll just stick to my close friends only.

@raclut That was last year. I’m having a better 2nd year so far. So, you want to me focus on school work during Friday and Saturday nights? I’m sorry, I just can’t do that, I’d die of boredom because I’m not an introvert, more like a mix of intro and extro. I can easily do my work and study during the daytime on Saturdays and Sundays. I only party 2 days a week and I do my work during those other times. But, if I partied more often than that, then that would be a problem. I know people who get good grades and still party, so…

I use Uber/Lyft because they use a rating system and have your information on file. If you happen to be some sort of weirdo creeper, I can report you to the police while downvoting you.

I wouldn’t let any of my female friends step into a car driven by some rando with a bucket of puke in his car offering to drive people around for a dollar.

Maybe you should look over your (parents) insurance policy. Did your parents buy your car? Is it in their name?

Although it may seem like an easy way to earn some spending money - the hours would be awful. You would have to be “on call” from probably 1am - 5am all weekend

Our DD system is announced on our Twitter party page, (the risk that some people would take because almost anyone can kidnap you @OhSorryYo ) But sometimes, Uber or Lyft wouldn’t be available at the time, but in a college environment, that’s highly unlikely.

@Flo123 That’s a negative with Uber & Lyft. That’s why custom hour DDing would be a better option if you were driving that night. But usually, people would make there own DDing hours on our Twitter page.

Aren’t designated drivers usually part of the friend group they’re driving, not random strangers?

@snowfairy137 At my college, it can be any college student with a car looking for money. Like I said in my post above you, anyone can post their phone number on our party Twitter page and drunk students will either call or text them to pick them up so they can get back to their dorm safely. Kinda risky if you ask me.

But, I always search the phone numbers thru an app called Messenger and it shows me if they’re college students or not because Messenger connects phone numbers to Facebook or Messenger profiles and you can tell right away if they’re legit or not by their picture or profile.

How much do you end up spending in gas? Is it a full tank? A dollar a person is too little. You might not be making much when you consider gas, having to clean up after people and that they might break something. Don’t they have regular jobs available?

This is a pretty lame idea all around. From your many other threads, it sounds like you need to stay away from parties.

At my daughter’s school, the fraternity pledges have to be the designated drivers for off campus parties.

If you were to do this, I would do it through a Lyft/Uber situation so you have insurance covered.

@gearmom I guess some people don’t consider gas money and having to clean up. At my school, they seem perfectly fine with the $1 rate. Although, I don’t have a car up here yet, but I’d always fill up my tank before if I ever considered doing so. Also, there are other jobs available, but it all depends on the person’s preference. Do they want to drive people around or work somewhere else on campus. I currently have a job on campus so I don’t have to do this at all.

@dj1028 I know why you want me to stay away from them: because I had one bad experience which was my fault. Plus, with my past history, it doesn’t look good for me. But, I met a new friend group last week and I’m starting to join them for parties. Only if I had the “stay in” mentality, then I wouldn’t mind not going to parties, but I’m just not like that. Furthermore, I plan on staying away from those situations, but it all starts with me acting smarter at parties.

I don’t think the paid rates for Uber/Lyft adequately compensate for the time, wear/tear, maintenance and operating costs of most vehicles. There is no way it makes financial sense to give rides for $1 a person, and that’s even if they’re not barfing in your car. This is a truly terrible, awful, no-good idea.

This is a really stupid idea for all of the reasons previous posters have mentioned. If you want to make money at this, become a driver for Lyft or Uber.

Not a good idea. Closing thread.