A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (“JAMA”) appears to show a link between the introduction of rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft in the Houston area and a decrease in drunk driving convictions and hospitalizations.
The study tracked cases in Houston’s two level-1 trauma centers, Ben Taub and Red Duke, and drunk driving convictions in Harris County before and after Uber’s January 2014 introduction to Houston. In fact, within a month of the Houston launch, the study began showing a downward trend in drunk driving convictions.
Convictions for arrests occurring on Friday and Saturday nights showed the greatest change, dropping by over 15%, and overall, rideshare volume was associated with a 67% decrease in motor vehicle crash trauma cases. Additionally, the study noted an especially stark decline in crash risk for young drivers. For drivers under the age of 30, motor vehicle accident trauma incidents decreased by 38.9%. This is particularly good news given that motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of mortality for this age group.
This data drives home exactly how preventable drunk driving accidents are and that just a little bit of planning and good decision-making can save lives.
Drunk driving accidents can be life-altering events and it’s important to find an attorney that can get you and your family the justice and compensation you deserve. If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in an accident by someone driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, contact the attorneys at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling 713-742-6004 or toll-free at 1-888-261-9018.