It used to be the case that if you wanted to travel in Boston, and you didn’t want to ride the bus or hail a cab, the popular option was to simply drive to your destination yourself. However, when your destination was a bar or party, this led to incidents of drunk driving and the possibility of incurring an OUI.
However, according to a recent study, the rise in ridesharing services have led to a decrease in OUI accidents.
In a study involving the ride-sharing service Uber, researchers found that since Uber began operating in the New York City metropolitan area, there has been a 25% to 35% decrease in OUI car crashes in comparison to cities without Uber. And while researchers can not conclusively link a direct correlation between the decrease in OUI and the increase in ridesharing services, they anticipate that as ridesharing grows in popularity across the nation, there could be an overall decrease in OUI deaths.
Ultimately, people know they should not operate under the influence. However, there are times when a person has no choice but to driver or believes that they are sober enough to drive safely. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that a person won’t be singled out by police on suspicion of OUI. The consequences that follow an OUI can last months, if not years, so it is essential that those facing an OUI understand what their options are, so they can make informed choices.
With the holiday season upon us, it is more important than ever to ensure we drive to and from celebrations safely, whether this means staying sober and driving yourself or utilizing ridesharing or public transportation. An OUI can certainly mar anyone’s holiday celebrations, but it is good to know that it is possible to formulate an OUI defense that meets your needs.