Hamot Medical Center and Erie Yellow Cab are pleased to announce the expansion of the Holiday Care Cab service starting with St. Patrick’s Day.

For those who are out celebrating the holiday and had too much to drink, Erie Yellow Cab will pick them up from a licensed drinking establishment and the cab fare will be paid by Hamot Medical Center- no charge to the passenger.

“As the local trauma center, it is our job to not only treat patients but to help prevent injury,” said John Malone, President and CEO of Hamot Medical Center. “We have had a great relationship with Erie Yellow Cab and we are pleased to partner with them again to help keep our community members safe.”

For more than 10 years, Erie Yellow Cab and Hamot have partnered to offer the service from noon on December 24th through January 1st. Now, they will be offering the Holiday Care Cab service on St. Patrick’s Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving and the traditional Christmas through New Year season.

“It just made sense,” said Mark McEnery, Erie Yellow Cab. “We have offered this service once a year and seen its success, so when Hamot called and suggested we expand to other holidays, we said we were in. Too many times we hear of people killed in drunk- driving accidents. We want to do our part to prevent that kind of tragedy.”

The hours of operation of the Holiday Cab are from Noon, March 17th until 3:00 AM March 18th. The service area is Erie from the lakeshore to Interstate 90, between Millfair Road on the west and Troupe Road on the east.

If a person needs to be taken home they can call 461-TAXI (461-8294) and tell the operator that they are calling for a holiday cab. The operator will take all of the necessary information.

Hamot Medical Center and Erie Yellow Cab want everyone to have a safe and happy holiday. Please don’t drink and drive, and don’t let others drink and drive.