March 24th, 2008

Company offers rides to those who drink too much

With St. Patrick’s Day looming a day away, or even if you just plan a night out that includes drinking, finding an alternative way home could save you thousands of dollars associated with a drunk driving ticket, not to mention your professional license and job.

“Society, from the standpoint of the legal system, is approaching zero tolerance and is not willing anymore to turn the other way,” said Tom Proctor, 49, of Bloomfield Hills. Click here to read more.

December 10th, 2007

A safe ride home in your own car

It's the holidays, and if you're a boss, you know what that means.

Company parties and other festive shindigs may cause employees to drink more than usual. Some are tempted to get behind the wheel even though they are not sober.

That's why many companies around metro Detroit are signing up for a new designated-driver program that takes intoxicated workers home in their own cars.

The Designate -- the Birmingham-based firm that offers the service -- sends out two drivers to meet clients. One takes the worker home in his or her own car, the other trails behind to pick up the driver. The company can also arrange for workers to be driven from location to location in their own car. Click here to read more.

November 12th, 2007

On-call drivers aim for national sites

The Designate is a professional chauffeur service that provides customers with an on-call driver for their personal vehicle. Drivers, who work in teams, are available through a reservation or as needed. Possible users include people who are heading to Metro Detroit entertainment venues and want a safe ride home in their own vehicles if they have consumed adult beverages, said owner and founder Tom Proctor. Click here to read more.

November 4th, 2007

Birmingham designated drivers get you home safe

With the holidays just around the corner, the Designate could come in handy, especially if you overindulge at a party and can't reach anybody or find a taxi to get you home.The on-demand professional chauffeur service has insured, licensed drivers who must pass a background check that includes drug screening and twice-daily Breathalyzer tests. Click here to read more.

August 9th, 2007

Company drives home

A business that provides a service that will get people home in their own cars has been named the “Official Designated Driver” of the Woodward Dream Cruise.  The Birmingham –based business, called The Designate, began in January and serves customers in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.  After a customer calls, two drivers in a Designate car will head to the customer’s location.  One driver will then drive the customer home in the customer’s car followed the Designate tailing car.  The service also will drive customers from location to location throughout the evening. Click here to read more.

August 9th, 2007

Cruising the Smart Way: Companies offer shuttle, chauffer services

Car enthusiasts who don’t want to pay high gas prices only to idle it away in the bumper-to-bumper traffic associated with the Woodward Dream Cruise can still enjoy the day’s events.  The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation will offer free rides along the entire Woodward route, stretching all the way from the State Fairgrounds to Pontiac, on Aug. 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Click here to read more.

August 9th, 2007

‘The Designate’ will drive Cruisers

The Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise has designated driver.
The Designate.  A Birmingham firm helping sponsor the Cruise has been named the “official Designated Driver” for the event.

The Designate provides on-call personal chauffeur services, serving Oakland, Macomb and Wayne Counties.  Whether for a special event, evening of entertaining or a night out.  The Designate drives customers home, in their own cars.  Click here to read more.

May 10th, 2007

The Designate steers drinkers clear

When veteran Birmingham entrepreneur Tom Proctor took a look around his world for his next business idea, one recurring observation remained at the front of his awareness like a blinking red light: America has a drinking problem.
But the problem is not the drinking itself, Proctor says. It’s the inability of American society to separate the culture of business and social drinking from the sacrosanct culture of the automobile. It’s not that Americans love to drink and drive, he says. It’s that in a metropolitan area such as Detroit, with little public transportation and taxi service, there are really not many alternatives. Click here to read more.