SafeRide will enforce a stricter policy about who can ride in its cabs as more taxis will be out on the weekends to pick up OU students in need of a ride home.

A new contract was formed with Yellow Cab of Norman and the Airport Express of Oklahoma City for the companies to assist in the growing number of students currently using SafeRide. The number of taxis out on the streets will grow from 10 to 20 vans and sedans. They will serve the city of Norman throughout the weekend.

SafeRide is a free service for OU students to get from one place to another safely and was created four years ago.

“The program is dedicated to assisting students in making smart, safe choices,” said Brynn Daves, assistant to the vice president of Student Affairs.

Due to a high volume of students using the service, wait times increased. The last academic year’s totals were the highest in the history of the program, Daves said.

Last semester, students could call SafeRide and get a ride to or from any location within the Norman city limits. However, many without valid IDs were taking part in this free service, Daves said.

In order to stop violators from using the system, SafeRide has made a few changes. One of these changes is the need to have a valid student ID at the time of the call. SafeRide has gone electronic, and students giving their ID number at the time of the call will help with the long wait times, Daves said.

Those without an OU student ID who have previously used SafeRide are leery of the changes. However, any non-OU student can ride if accompanied by an active OU student.

“I do not like it, because sometimes you depend on SafeRide to get you home,” said Kaylee Burris, broadcasting sophomore at Oklahoma City Community College.

Burris said she feels that with these changes, the drunk driving rates will increase.

Students currently at OU will see only a minor difference when using SafeRide.

English senior Sarah McKinney has used SafeRide before and said although students need their IDs, she has never had to use one.

“I’m surprised. I’m sure a lot of people don’t bring their ID every time they go out,” McKinney said. “On the other hand, it was started by the university for the students.”

With these changes, Burris said she will no longer use SafeRide, unless she is with her OU friends.

McKinney said she will continue to ride; she will just have to remember to bring her ID with her.

“It’s really nice to have a way to get home safely without having to pay for a cab,” she said.

“With these improvements to the program, it is our hope that students will continue to make a smart and safe choice,” Daves said.