OLD BRIDGE -- The township has become the next in just a handful of municipalities to partner with Uber in offering residents free rides home as part of an initiative that studies show can reduce DUI-related arrests and fatalities, Uber announced in a statement recently.

The program, funded solely through private business donors, allows residents to acquire an Uber driver, completely free of charge, from several select bars and restaurants in the township's downtown.

Here's how it works:

When you're ready to leave one of the select locations, you open the Uber app and select the "Old Bridge Safe Ride" option. You request your ride, and then you get a receipt emailed to you showing that you paid $0 for the trip, according to an Uber spokesman. And that's it, home safe and sound.

The Safe Ride option -- which is automatically enabled upon the users' request -- is available Thursday to Saturday between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.

The initiative, announced last week at the Focused on the Future Business Leadership Forum, was hosted by the Old Bridge Business Alliance.

Early last year, researchers from Temple University conducted an independent study that apparently found "cities with Uber have seen a 5-percent drop in DUI-related fatalities compared to those without Uber," according to Uber's statement.

Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry was quoted in the company's statement applauding the program, saying: "Uber's 'safe ride' is a wonderful opportunity offered to Old Bridge residents to be able to dine locally and provide them with a safe ride home if necessary."

Evesham and Summit are among the municipalities to have also adopted the program. Since adopting the program, Evesham has experienced a 55-percent decrease in DUI arrests, the statement said.

Pick up locations include:

General Saloon; 1194 Englishtown Rd., Old Bridge

T.G.I Fridays; 1001 U.S. Route 9 North, Old Bridge

The Grand Marquis; 1550 Route 9 South, Old Bridge

Big Ed's BBQ; 305 Route 34, Matawan

Cafe Luna; 3679 Route 9 North, Old Bridge

Ruby Tuesday; 1352 Route 9, Old Bridge

Texas Roadhouse: 1000 Route 9, Parlin

Pine Tavern: 151 Route 34 and Dock Rd., Old Bridge

Bensi Restaurant Italiano: 3899 Route 9 (The Shoppes at Old Bridge)

Palms Plaza Caterers; 343 Route 34, Matawan

Outback Steakhouse; 1398 Route 9 North, Old Bridge

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.