Popular ride-sharing company DiDi will add trucks to its service and offer to tow cars back home to stop Australians from drink-driving over Christmas.
The Chinese-owned platform will launch the cranes onto the streets of Melbourne during the summer months.
Victorians who have had too much to drink will be able to book the bright orange vehicles to collect their car.
The truck driver will load the vehicle on the platform and the customer will give him the car keys.
Passengers will be taken home along with their vehicles, saving customers the hassle of having to pick up their car the next day.
DiDi Australia head of external affairs Dan Jordan said the company added trucks to its fleet to help people enjoy celebrations during the festive season.
“We’ve all been in that situation where we’ve had too many drinks at the bar with our car keys in our pocket,” Jordan told the Herald of the sun.
Customers will not have to pay an additional cost to reserve the tow trucks while the company tests the new vehicles.
The Chinese-owned ride-sharing platform will launch tow trucks that will roam the streets of Melbourne during the summer months (stock image pictured).
Jordan said the company could roll out the trucks to other Australian cities if the trial is successful.
Kate Hallahan and Emily Pietrocola were the first customers to be picked up by a tow truck operated by DiDi in Melbourne last week.
Lence Parevska, 22, picked up the women from a pub and drove them through the narrow streets of Fitzroy before they were dropped off at home.
The unusual mode of transport comes as police continue to crack down on drink driving following the deaths of 271 people on Victoria’s roads in 2024.
A 2023 report from the Transport Accident Commission revealed that 48 per cent of Victorian drivers would consider driving after consuming two or more alcoholic drinks.
Transport Accident Commission chief executive Tracey Slatter said changes needed to be made to move away from the culture of drink-driving.
“We want to adopt a culture where driving after drinking alcohol is not considered normal,” Ms Slatter said.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Glenn Weir said the message to motorists is very clear: do not drink and drive.
Commissioner Weir said December is the worst month for drunk driving incidents statewide.