Let safety take the front seat with these go-to apps during festive season

New Yearrsquos Eve is a time filled with festivities indulgences and most importantly the cherished tradition of raising a toast to new beginnings Amidst this crescendo of excitement there is also an unfortunate phenomenon that reaches its peak mdash driving under the influence of alcoholA hasty decision that can quickly turn a night of hopping bars with your friends into spending one behind the bars What drives city folks to engage in drunk driving despite deterrents like awareness programmes fines and even the threat of imprisonment Perhaps something more valuable than the penalties mdash the fear of leaving behind a prized possession mdash their vehicle mdash and heading homeFortunately there exists a simple solution to this predicament Services offering ondemand drivers who ensure a safe journey home in your own vehicle and bid you farewell We delve into the experiences of city partygoers who share their goto optionsWorth the waitKunal Koli 24 business development managerI have been in this predicament a couple of times in the past For me more than the vehicle being left alone the surge prices on cab services are a bigger deterrent You buy a car to have control over timings and expenses Having to wait and pay extra during surge hours makes no sense I recommend Driver On Hire as I have used it to get home from the central suburbs to my residence in Kandivali The state of the roads needs no introduction but the drivers are trained and take good care of the vehicle not rushing to finish the trip The fourhourly charges are convenient as most trips within Mumbai usually last shorterThumbs up Cooperative executives and driversThumbs down Waiting period can extend to an hour so get your booking done in advanceTIMINGS All day 24 hoursLOG ON TO driveronhirecomCOST Rs 500 per four hoursNo hitches in this rideMahek Chavan 22 anchor and presenterWhen I worked as a freelancer Irsquod be on the go for a major part of the day Staying focused behind the wheel after a long working day would sometimes be a struggle I used Drivars to book a driver from my office in SoBo to Goregaon The staff was prompt The driver was professional and pleasant to have a conversation with when required I was informed that they have a notobacco policy which Irsquod really like to see being implemented across other services in the city The rides have been pretty uneventful Irsquod recommend booking at least half an hour in advance for a smooth experienceThumbs up The live tracking makes for a worryfree trip for me and my familyThumbs down Occasional cancellations during peak hoursTIMINGS All day 24 hoursLOG ON TO Drivars on app storesCOST Available on requestCheck yesPurvesh Patil 25 studentI have used Tat D on various occasions I use it either to get home after a party during late nights or after a tough workout at my gym in Santacruz which is nearly a 30minute drive from home A good workout can make driving seem like a difficult task I have no complaints with the service Itrsquos pretty straightforward I have recommended it to my friends after I learnt that they have a multilayer background and experience check before hiring their drivers Safety will always be my first priority and to know that the drivers go through a rigorous background check is a major reassuranceThumbs up Assurance about the backgrounds of the driversThumbs down 90minute waiting period book well in advanceTIMINGS All day 24 hoursLOG ON TO Tat D on app storesCOST R318 for 10km Rs 8 per extra kmTest drive The safe night riderThe booking page on the siteItrsquos midnight in Bandra West when we entrust Driver On Hire to drop us home in the far suburb of Borivali Following a short call to share the pickup and drop address with an executive a welldressed gentleman Sarver Siddiqui arrives within an hour to drop us home The experience is smooth sans any untoward incidents Over a conversation Siddiqui shares that there exists a mandatory police verification and background check that each driver must pass The trip costs us Rs 500 plus an extra Rs 200 midnight fee that we are informed will go towards managing the driverrsquos return home at such late hours Sounds like a winwin to us