PinEvery year, DUI arrests throughout the state have resulted in thousands of drunk drivers facing license revocation, vehicle impoundment, and other consequences depending on their level of DWI charge. Unfortunately, these arrests would not have happened if they had assigned a designated driver to take them home. 

In recent years, ridesharing apps such as Uber, Lyft, Sidecar and Groundlink have become increasingly popular all over the country. In a way, these services are now seen as the designated driver of choice for many individuals.

Services such as Uberand Lyft have a network of readily available rides and use GPS-enabled smartphone apps that enable individuals to request a pickup from a friendly driver within their vicinity. Ridesharing apps are a convenient alternative to drunk driving nowadays, making it easier for an individual to get a safe ride instead of driving home drunk.

Benefits brought about by ridesharing services include convenient ordering and payment methods, better customer service, and shorter wait times. The entire transaction takes place on a cellphone app. Cash payments aren’t necessary, since bills and tips are automatically charged to your enrolled credit card. Rides are often only minutes away. Drivers can be tracked in real time, and vehicle and driver details are sent to the user ahead of time.

In Los Angeles and other cities, the number of DUI arrests are said to have lowered since Uber, Lyft, and other similar services have begun operations. Other states have also experienced comparable findings.

According to Uber, DUI arrests in Seattle have plummeted by 10 percent since their arrival in the city. In the Bay Area, a steady decrease of DUI arrests were noticed since Uber was launched in June 2010 and other companies followed later on.

Police officials, however, state that such assertion cannot be measured. A decline in DUI arrests cannot be attributed solely to the use of ride sharing apps merely because these ridesharing apps are operating at the same time that DUI arrests are dropping. Other factors such as the changing economy, bar scene, population, and even availability of public transit service, for example, may also contribute to the decline in DUI statistics.

While crediting these statistics to the introduction of ridesharing apps cannot be possible, it cannot be denied, though, that these companies are a huge help when it comes to preventing potential cases of DUI and saving lives. After all, individuals are less likely to drive home drunk if more transport options are available.

A spokesperson from Uber stated that the company does not care much about the statistics or the exact impact their app is making on drunk driving statistics, but are simply happy to know that an obviously positive impact is being made on the safety of cities the company operates in. 

Source: Uber Says They’re Reducing DUI Arrests,published