Does Uber Prevent Drunk Driving Accidents?

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Drunk Driving Accidents

Uber often touts its mission to end drunk driving across the country. The ride-sharing company frequently reports on declines in incidents of drunk driving within urban areas that have Uber. Uber says that its ride-sharing service has given individuals an affordable, accessible transportation option that keeps them from driving while under the influence.

Although some may find Uber’s claim that it significantly reduced drunk driving hyperbolic, some research supports the claim. A recent study conducted by the City University of New York found that since Uber rolled out its ride-sharing services in four boroughs of New York City, there has been a 25 to 35 percent decrease in drunk driving accidents. This means that there have been approximately 40 fewer crashes per month in the boroughs.

However, a study conducted by the American Journal of Epidemiology last year found that there is no correlation between drunk driving accidents and Ubers. Researchers say that the number of people who use Uber is relatively small as compared to the overall number of drivers. Therefore, any impact ride-hailing services may have on drunk driving incidents could be minimal.

The study’s authors examined drunk driving statistics from 2009 to 2014 in the most populated cities in the U.S. They found that Uber services did not have any influence in the reduction of fatal accidents. In addition, the study’s researcher says that drunk drivers are not usually rational, so decreasing the difficulty of finding transportation that is of low cost would not reduce the number of drunk driving accidents.

Research Varies on the Effect of Uber on Alcohol-Related Accidents

Although some studies show no or minimal relationship between Uber’s riding services and drunk driving accidents, most reports show that there is a correlation between Uber and lower rates of drunk driving accidents. Two studies, one conducted by West Carolina University and one completed by Temple University in 2015, found that Uber’s ride-sharing services resulted in less fatal accidents throughout the U.S.

A report Uber released in 2015 shows that the company’s ridership increased at times when alcohol-related accidents occurred. The report also revealed that the roll-out of Uber’s services in Seattle was linked to a 10 percent decrease in arrests for intoxicated driving. In addition, the report showed that in some areas in California where Uber implemented its ride-sharing services, drunk driving accidents decreased by 6.5 percent per month among young drivers.

Although some research varies on whether there is a relationship between Uber and drunk driving accidents, the majority of studies show that there is some correlation between Uber’s ride-sharing services and a decreased in alcohol-related accidents. Still, most researchers agree that additional studies on the link between ride-sharing services and the reduction of drunk driving accidents are needed.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Lake County

If you or a loved one were involved in a drunk driving accident, contact one of the skilled Lake County personal injury attorneys at Salvi & Maher, LLP. We will strive to obtain the compensation you are entitled to for the accident. Call us at 847-662-3303 to schedule your free consultation today.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/business/uber-drunk-driving-prevention.html

https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/184/3/192/2195589/Uber-and-Metropolitan-Traffic-Fatalities-in-the

http://money.cnn.com/2016/07/29/technology/uber-drunk-driving/index.html