The effects of Uber and Lyft on drunk driving

Ride sharing apps like Uber and Lyft are new to the capitol city.

Lyft started offering rides in Lincoln in April 2014. Uber came to the capitol city a few months later in August.

Since their arrival, Lincoln’s Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) rate has gone down 32.02% according to the Lincoln Police Department.

In 2013, before ride sharing apps like Uber and Lyft arrived in Lincoln, LPD reported 1,379 DWI’s.

Since their arrival in 2014 numbers have significantly decreased by .7%

The biggest jump in 2016 was14% making the total of DWI’s since 2013 to 2016 with ride sharing apps like Uber and Lyft 342.

An Uber spokesperson said, “Drunk driving is 100% preventable. And what we’ve seen in cities across the country is that when people can get an affordable, reliable ride at the push of a button, they are more likely to make the smart decision not to drink and drive. We’re thrilled to be in Lincoln, and are proud to partner with hundreds of drivers across the community to provide a reliable alternative to drunk driving.”

A spokesperson for Lyft said, “Lyft can be very beneficial, allowing people to live car-free without worrying about safe rides home. In a survey, we found that 88% of passengers are more likely to avoid driving while intoxicated because of Lyft.”

Most rides are under $30, and promo codes are offered for each site.