The city of Winnipeg wants people to have as many options as possible when getting home safely on New Year’s Eve.

That’s why for the 40th year, Winnipeg Transit is offering free service after 7 p.m. that day, in an effort to help people make the responsible choice not to drink and drive.

“We are trying to ensure everyone gets home safely on New Year’s Eve,” Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, Deputy Mayor said. “It’s their responsibility to choose another option other than drinking and driving and this is a good option they can take on top of taking a taxi or using Operation Red Nose.”

“There are always other options over the holiday season to prevent tragedies.”

The Free Ride program applies to all Regular and Handi-Transit service and goes from 7 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2017 to 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2018. The city says since New Year’s Eve falls on a Sunday, Transit will operate on a regular Sunday schedule with the last buses typically departing downtown at 12:15 a.m.

However, the city says extra buses will run later to accommodate people leaving their New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Inspector Gord Spado with the Winnipeg Police Service Traffic Unit says impaired driving the leading cause of criminal death in Canada.

He’s hopeful people will make the right choice this year.  

“While there has been a decline in the number of road fatalities due to impaired driving, the numbers are still too high and something needs to be done,” Spado said.

The city says last year 15,000 people used the Free Ride program.

 A list of bus routes for New Year’s Eve can be found on the city’s website.