PISCATAWAY, N.J., Nov. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — More rideshare journeys imply fewer alcohol-involved accidents, in response to a brand new examine within the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. The discovering provides to a rising physique of labor suggesting that ridesharing might take the place of drunk driving.
In their analysis, investigators studied statistics from the Chicago Data Portal for November 2018 to December 2019. They matched 962 alcohol-involved crashes with 962 that didn’t contain alcohol and appeared on the density per sq. mile of rideshare journeys that have been in progress on the time of the crash.
The researchers selected Chicago particularly as a result of it is one of many few places wherein rideshare information—together with details about the place every journey began and ended—are launched publicly on the journey degree.
“We found the density of active rideshare trips near a crash site was associated with decreased odds that the crash was alcohol-involved,” says Christopher Morrison, Ph.D., assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School. “These results are consistent with the suggestion that ridesharing replaces impaired-driver trips.”
Specifically, a rise of 1 rideshare journey per sq. mile was related to 0.2% decreased odds {that a} crash was alcohol-involved. Although the advantages for one rideshare journey have been small, the sheer quantity of rideshare journeys and alcohol-involved crashes on Chicago roads imply the general impacts might be substantial.
This examine comes as welcome—though not shocking—information to the 2 greatest ridesharing suppliers.
Kristin Smith, head of worldwide street security coverage at Uber, says, “We do think this research underscores what we’ve been hearing for years—that greater access to transportation through technology can help people make the right choices, plan ahead and avoid driving drunk.”
Smith factors to a variety of research revealed simply this 12 months, together with one which confirmed that drunk driving traumas and DUIs have been lowered within the metropolis of Houston after Uber entered the market.
According to Lyft’s Director of Community Safety Policy Kamillah Wood, “Alcohol-involved crashes continue to be a public health dilemma, taking a devastating toll on innocent victims and their families. We’re grateful for this research, as it illuminates the impact ridesharing can have on reducing drunk driving and helping to keep communities safe.”
The examine factors out that ridesharing companies can be found in 263 cities within the United States, and so they have facilitated greater than 11 billion rides since starting to function round 10 years in the past. Ridesharing could also be an interesting possibility for customers as a result of they will keep away from each the danger of drunk driving and the potential inconvenience of public transportation.
“Drunk driving is devastating for the people who drive drunk and for other drivers and passengers with whom they share the road,” says Morrison. “We can use this information to help reduce these enormous health costs.”
This analysis was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Media contact:
Stephanie Berger
917-734-8973 (cell)
sb2247@cumc.columbia.edu
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Image 1: Use of rideshare apps might scale back driving-under-the-influence crashes
Use of rideshare apps might scale back driving-under-the-influence crashes
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- Use of rideshare apps might scale back driving-under-the-influence crashes