Madison Offers $20 Uber Vouchers to Curb Impaired Driving

The city's Safe Nights Network pairs participating bars with discounted rides on select nights and holidays.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Couponing

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The City of Madison launched its Safe Nights Network, offering discounted rides from eight participating bars on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights to curb impaired driving. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The City of Madison has launched the Safe Nights Network, a Vision Zero initiative offering discounted rides to reduce impaired driving. Customers at eight participating bars scan a QR code for discounted rides on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and $20 Uber vouchers are available through the city's website on select holidays starting November 25.

Why it matters

Between January 2023 and January 2026, 861 impairment-related crashes occurred in Madison, leaving 416 people injured and 18 dead. The program targets convenience and ride cost, two barriers that can push people toward driving after drinking.

The program provides a $20 discount per Uber ride voucher, with riders responsible for any remaining fare. Eight businesses currently participate, and the extraction does not report how many rides have been subsidized so far.

The players

City of Madison

The capital city of Wisconsin, which operates the Safe Nights Network and administers the voucher program through its website.

The details

Customers at participating bars scan a QR code to access discounted rides on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Riders must have the Uber app, and the city is working to potentially expand the program to local taxi services.

Timeline

  1. January 2023 to January 2026: 861 impairment-related crashes occurred in Madison.

  2. November 25, 2026: $20 Uber vouchers become available through the city's website.

  3. November 25-27, 2026: Holiday vouchers available for Thanksgiving weekend.

  4. December 24-25, 2026: Holiday vouchers available for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

  5. December 31, 2026 to January 1, 2027: Holiday vouchers available for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Legal Context

The Safe Nights Network is framed as a Vision Zero initiative, applying that traffic-safety framework to impaired driving by reducing the cost and inconvenience of getting home after drinking. Its effect on Madison's impairment-related crash totals will depend on whether the 861 crashes recorded from 2023 to 2026 decline in future reporting periods.

Madison residents who plan to drink at participating bars can scan a QR code for discounted rides on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Holiday $20 Uber vouchers are available on select dates starting November 25, 2026, though riders must have the Uber app and pay any fare above the discount.

The takeaway

If you plan to drink out in Madison during the holidays, check whether a nearby participating bar offers the Safe Nights ride discount and consider loading the Uber app before you go.

Further reading

For more ways to save on everyday expenses, explore the Couponing section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Wmtv15news.

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Should your city spend public money on discounted rides to prevent drunk driving?