Has Ridesharing Cut Down on Drunk Driving Accidents?

The compassionate auto accident attorneys from the law firm of Silverman, McDonald & Friedman are ready to represent your interests when you have been injured in a car crash caused by a drunk driver in Delaware. We offer no-obligation consultations in Newark, Wilmington and Seaford to answer your questions and explore your options based on the facts of your case for pursuing compensation for your injuries.

People who go out and drink socially are always reminded to have a designated driver so that they do not put themselves and others in danger by drinking and driving. In the cities where the popular ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft are available, they seem to be having a positive impact on reducing drunk driving, according to a recent study conducted by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Uber Technologies Inc.

The numbers don’t lie

The report, which was released last year, reveals that in California, drunk driving crashes fell 6.5% among drivers under 30 in the markets where Uber operates following the launch of UberX, its lower-priced option. The 6.5% reduction means that there were potentially 60 fewer drunk driving crashes each month, with a total of 1,800 crashes avoided since 2012. The study also revealed that nearly four in five respondents said that their friends are less likely to drink and drive since Uber and other ride-sharing services became available in their city, and 93% said that they would recommend Uber as a safe way home for a friend who had drank too much to drive home.

In cities like Atlanta, where Uber has been operating since 2012, drunk driving arrests have declined 32%, and 80% of the people who have used the service believe that it has helped them to avoid drinking and driving accidents. Uber has been operating in Seattle since 2014, and there has been a 10% reduction in the number of DUI arrests since then.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approximately 427 people have been killed in crashes involving drunk drivers in Delaware between 2003 and 2012. The number of adults in Delaware who report driving after drinking too much (in the 30 days preceding the survey) was 2.7% as compared to the national average of 1.9 percent. One in three traffic deaths in the United States involves a drunk driver.

The convenient, low priced options for transportation makes it very easy for someone who wants to go out and drink to make the right choice to not drive home. Uber has only been operating in Delaware since last June, so it may be too early to tell if their presence along with other ridesharing services is having an impact on reducing drunk driving in Delaware.

Those who have suffered an injury in a traffic crash that was caused by a drunk driver, or who lost a loved one due to the reckless and negligent behavior of a drunk driver may be able to take legal action to recover compensation for their losses.

You are welcome to call 302.414.5553 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation to discuss your car crash injuries. We have offices conveniently located in Newark, Seaford and Wilmington, the auto accident lawyers of Silverman, McDonald & Friedman are here to serve clients throughout Delaware.