After closing their doors in December 2018, SCV Safe Rides hosted a reunion for those that had volunteered with the program in the Santa Clarita community over the last 32 years.

Dozens of the program’s former volunteers gathered at the event to exchange stories from their time with Safe Rides

The event also featured old photo albums and newspaper clippings highlighting the work the organization did in the community.

“Safe Rides was made up of so many unsung heroes that helped keep the streets of Santa Clarita free of intoxicated motorists for over 32 years,” said Tom Iland, former teen volunteer and adult supervisor. “The organization will be missed and continues to serve as a reminder to all that driving under the influence is never the answer.”

Over the course of its 32-year history, Safe Rides provided volunteer opportunities to more than 5,000 teens, and 400,000-plus miles were driven to provide more than 40,000 teens a safe ride home.

“It’s a bittersweet moment for us,” said Koren Young, an 11-year volunteer with Safe Rides.  “The volunteers enjoyed getting together every weekend and really felt like they were making a difference in their community.”

Related: SCV Safe Rides Closes After Three Decades Of Service

The program was initially founded in 1986 by Penny Upton and Betty Burke Oldfield after six teenagers died in a span of 18 months as a result of alcohol-related car crashes.

Safe Rides offered teenagers a free, safe and confidential ride home every Friday and Saturday night, which lead to a 95 percent decrease in the number of local teen deaths related to drunk driving in the program’s first 15 years, according to officials.

Several factors contributed to Safe Rides’ eventual shuttering, including the rising cost of insurance; increased restrictions on teenage drivers and the heightened availability of ride-sharing services.

“Safe Rides would not have been possible without the enormous support from the community,” said Upton. “Thank you to everyone for helping us save lives.”

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