MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) and Uber Technologies, Inc. conducted a study, the results of which were impressive. It showed that because ride-sharing was a convenient transportation option, it has proved to be a powerful tool in reducing DUI crashes.

In a press release issued last year, MADD credited ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft with “dramatically reducing alcohol-related accidents.”  The report includes a survey of attitudes about ride-sharing services and their role in combating DUI crashes. Seventy-eight percent or 4 out of 5 respondents said that their friends were less likely to drive home after drinking since ride-sharing services started operating in their area. Newsweek reported in August 2015 that California saw a reduction of 6.5 percent of drunk-driving crashes among drivers under 30 years of age.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles estimates that every 52 minutes someone is killed in a drunk-driving crash. In the past, there were only taxis to call if a person needed alternate transportation after drinking, but that has changed now. The ride-share services, according to the Department, have a significant impact by providing people with “smarter, faster, and cheaper alternatives” to getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.

How does ride-sharing operate?

Ride-sharing companies operate like taxis but are less costly and can be accessed through APPS. As APPS are a way of life for most people, using an APP when needing a ride home from a party, is a natural for the times. The request for a pickup is wholly controlled through a smart phone. The GPS locators know where you want to be picked up based on your current location while showing how far away the driver is. Based on other passenger reviews, you can get fare estimates, estimates on pick up and drop off times, and choose the driver.

Using Uber, similar to other ride-sharing services, a potential passenger first creates an account through the APP on his/her iPhone or Android device. After doing so, he/she may access the service when needed.

Are ride-sharing companies safe?

Uber and Lyft, just two of the ride-sharing companies, were involved in controversy in the U.S. because of the lack of regulation and legal protections for passengers using this new industry. At the present time, 27 states have passed legislation to legalize and regulate ride-sharing services. Florida regulation has been on a county basis, but the state has now joined the ranks of many other states looking at regulating ride-sharing companies. According to news articles, it is believed in 2016 there will be sensible rules on basic insurance and public safety following the 2015 Florida legislative session when State Senator Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg and State Representative Jamie Grant of Tampa introduced bills to clarify the situation. 

“At Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., we look forward to Florida’s setting regulations for this industry, and applaud the potential ride-sharing services have in making our roads safer by reducing drunk-driving accidents,” said Hurt By Drunk Driver Attorney, Randall Spivey.