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Local mom pitches free designated driver service

Posted 1:27 AM, Oct 20, 2016
and last updated 2:10 AM, Oct 20, 2016

SAN DIEGO - An El Cajon woman frustrated with the number of recent drunk driving cases has decided to do something about it.

Erika Broderdorf watched in horror Saturday when a suspected drunken driver plunged off a Coronado Bridge on-ramp and killed four people at Chicano Park.

"This incident just kind of pushed me over, and I just can't sit and do nothing anymore," said Broderdorf, who has two sons.

She added, "When we sign up to be parents, it's our job to keep them safe," she said. "And another thing with drinking and driving recently, when you turn on the news, there are individuals who are making the choice to go out, [to] drink and drive."

Broderdorf now doing her best to start a designated driver service for people who drink too much but don't want to leave their cars behind.

"And they don't want to spend the money to call a taxi or Uber, and they don't want to be inconvenienced in the morning to not have a vehicle," Broderdorf said. "They might have to be at work at 7 or 8 o clock."

Broderdorf said the service would involve two people -- one to drive a person's car home with them, while the other follows in another car to pick up the other driver. She wants it to be free, but doesn't know where to turn.

"My hope is to reach other people and inspire them, who want to help, and I don't know where to go from here, and that's why I'm reaching out to our community," she said.

But this isn't her first attempt to stop drunk drivers. Broderdorf has been volunteering for Mothers Against Drunk Driving for years -- inspired after a drunk driver killed a friend who was simply going for a walk.

"I just watched that family crumble," she said.

A spokeswoman for Mother Against Drunk Drivers told 10News the organization supports all efforts to stop drunk driving but emphasized its exclusive partnership with ridesharing service Uber.

But Borderdorf is ready to go, even though it means driving others around during the morning's wee hours.