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Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

economist.com

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Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#271

Post by iamatworknow »

mighty_warrior wrote: post #266
iamatworknow wrote: post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in one of the few areas of the US that still doesn't have ride sharing services -- upstate New York, where they are banned and still being debated in the state government[0]. I also live in an area where there are 4 colleges and universities in two towns within 10 miles of each other. I went to one of these colleges, and have seen what people do to get to and from the bars first hand. There's one taxi service…

Hey hows Potsdam? Sounds like it hasn't changed in the decade since I was there. Not that I expected it to.

Hahahaha, was it that obvious? I grew up around here and graduated from one of the four schools (gotta stay a little anonymous) in 2009. I'm not sure why I'm still here, really.

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#272

Post by kevin_b_er »

pluma wrote: post #155
sAbakumoff wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

During my first visit to the USA, back in 2007, I was shocked at casual drinking and driving habits of my co-workers. They were fine with having 5-6 bottles of beer and a couple of shots and then drop me in the hotel before driving home. Fortunately they don't have to do that anymore.

I think this might be related to another complaint you often hear about: the drinking culture in general. Where I live in Europe it's normal to have designated drivers at parties and it's socially unacceptable to pressure them into drinking. If someone offers you a drink, "I'm driving" is a no-questions-asked way to turn it down (same goes for "I'm pregnant" or "I'm a recovering alcoholic"). That doesn't seem to be t…

I've also seen how businesses do not like it if there's a person at a table ordering nothing while their buddies booze it up at high margins. That person gets treated poorly by waitstaff for not making any money or tips, even though their buddies wouldn't be able to drink nearly so much otherwise.

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#273

Post by amyjess »

I discovered Lyft after a friend of mine got a DWI.

His DWI was enough to get him to turn himself around, so he started using Lyft every time he went out drinking (years later, he's still steadfast about not driving when he's drinking), and he told me about Lyft, so now I use it all the time instead of relying on public transit or asking my friends to give me rides.

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#274

Post by tedmiston »

rbcgerard wrote: post #257
jhpaul wrote: post #65

Based on personal experiences this isn't surprising. When I was in college in a small town in the late 00's, many friends and acquaintances would drive across town after heavy drinking. 10-15 minutes, straight roads, little traffic. Other than not going out, or not getting home, you didn't have many options. It was a hour long walk or a $20-40 cab ride, if you could get one. I was recently back in town for a wedding…

Actually one of the things that's most interesting about this study is that it's a study of NYC - where access to public transport might be the best in the United States. Purely supposition on my part but my guess is that the market ride sharing services are capturing are suburbanites who are actually paying $50 to go to NJ/LI/CT as opposed to driving - as it's hard to imagine many locals driving anywhere, let alone…

> NYC - where access to public transport might be the best in the United States

Same with access to taxis… being able to just walk outside and find one vs in many other cities having to call one (and have their phone number already) and wait.

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#275

Post by [deleted] »

Kihashi wrote: post #255
wapz wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 20+ miles out in the middle of nowhere That's the reason there are no cabs and I don't blame cab drivers. They don't get paid to sit around 40 minutes to find a passenger. I'm surprised that finding an uber in one of those places is not difficult either. Outside of the US, a lot of the population is very condensed (well the US is to some degree) making cabs and public transportation much more efficient/effective IM…

I remember reading a post from an Uber driver in a small town. Basically, instead of idling, he'd just use his house as a waiting area. So instead of just waiting around, he'd be at home, doing other stuff until he got an rider. Then he'd get in his car and drive them where they needed to be.

[deleted]

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#276

Post by seanmcdirmid »

Broken_Hippo wrote: post #169
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It isn't that, the cab rides are never just $20, and often there are no cabs at all. The USA just has crappy non car transportation options. And it isn't just an hour walk in many places, but a few hours walk on dark streets with no side walks. When I was living in the Deep South, I sometimes had to take people home 20+ miles out in the middle of nowhere.

I used to think the same - I've lived in plenty of places with no public transportation. No choice, I'd say, bemoaning the lack of decent public transport. But then I was in a similar situation off in a small town in Norway. I was at a 80th birthday party in a small town. Most of the attendees were drunk. Everyone already knew someone to take them home, and organized themselves accordingly, some waiting a bit for the…

Thinking? I'm not thinking it is ok! No no, I'm just saying why people are idiotic enough to do this.

The BAC level now for Utah is .05. It isn't like all of the US states are slouching. Of course, Utah is different from the deep south.

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#277

Post by thewhitetulip »

septimus111 wrote: post #184
thewhitetulip wrote: post #73

Uber's PR team would be rejoicing right now! It is great that technological advances have both positive and negative effects, and some times, the positive effects saves a ton of lives.

Ummm... I'm sure Uber's PR team had absolutely nothing to do with this article ;)

Exactly, they are getting free publicity, it isn't bad anytime.

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#278

Post by garethsprice »

dx034 wrote: post #236
soperj wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not just about dirt cheap. You know that you're not going to get screwed by an uber driver, even if you're drunk. Can't say the same about cab drivers, who've definitely tried to pull things when they see drunk people. Not to mention the ones that'll just pass you by over and over, or won't come to your location at a certain time, or just not answer the phone. Cabs in general have been horrible.

Exactly. My experience as a tourist in the US has been horrible. Even drunk I still realize that the driver makes considerable detours on the way. With Uber that will either not happen or I can complain and get a refund.

I sound like a tourist (Brit in NYC) and cabs will often take random detours hoping I don't notice. Ride shares are better than the yellow cabs. I've found that audibly turning on my GPS when I get into a cab seems to curb it.

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#279

Post by seanmcdirmid »

skrebbel wrote: post #123
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It isn't that, the cab rides are never just $20, and often there are no cabs at all. The USA just has crappy non car transportation options. And it isn't just an hour walk in many places, but a few hours walk on dark streets with no side walks. When I was living in the Deep South, I sometimes had to take people home 20+ miles out in the middle of nowhere.

Makes sense, but if you know that your only way back home is your car and you still pop the cork, you're acting like a bad person in my book ("hitting a child" level indeed).

Please note that I've never driven while drunk, I don't even drink that much, and I've always been the one to take people home who were drunk.

Understanding why people do shit is quite different from condoning shit.

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#280

Post by seanmcdirmid »

Kihashi wrote: post #255
wapz wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 20+ miles out in the middle of nowhere That's the reason there are no cabs and I don't blame cab drivers. They don't get paid to sit around 40 minutes to find a passenger. I'm surprised that finding an uber in one of those places is not difficult either. Outside of the US, a lot of the population is very condensed (well the US is to some degree) making cabs and public transportation much more efficient/effective IM…

I remember reading a post from an Uber driver in a small town. Basically, instead of idling, he'd just use his house as a waiting area. So instead of just waiting around, he'd be at home, doing other stuff until he got an rider. Then he'd get in his car and drive them where they needed to be.

That only works if trips are originating from nearby. I've been to some shady Louisiana bars out in the middle of nowhere, I'm not sure how even Uber would work out there.
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