Everyone with a smartphone now has access to the next generation of personalized, private transportation. It used to be a matter of calling and reserving a cab or, in some places, hailing one from the side of the road. Since ride
sharing is a new phenomenon, however, all of the kinks are still being worked out, including those concerning safety. There is no central authority governing who can drive rideshares, and no license needed beyond a normal driver’s license. Here are some things to understand about the safety of using a ride share service.
One recent study showed that ride sharing’s rise as a service was correlated with a 2 to 3% increase in the number of people killed in accidents – whether pedestrians or occupants of the automobile – between the years of 2011 and 2016. While this study is not the authoritative source of information on the subject, it is concerning. More studies need to be done, though caution is always advisable when getting in a car with someone who, at best, has the same driver’s license that you do.
Since the 1980s, the United States has actually seen an
overall decline in the number of fatal traffic accidents. However, when ride shares started to become a reality in the United States – around 2014 – the numbers suddenly showed an uptick. While correlation is not the same as causation, it is important to keep an eye on these kinds of trends. Several factors have been examined to see how they were affected when ride shares started to grow in popularity, including:
While highly-populated cities were most affected – as were the poorest of them – it is clear that more people shifted away from their public transportation options, or became drivers themselves. Simply having more drivers on the road, with more stops, and more pressure, could explain the increase in fatal accidents.
Some were critical of this study, pointing out that low prices, which tend to lead to an increase in driving, coincided with this same rise in popularity of ride sharing services. In fact, there was a considerable drop right around this same time. Rural areas saw an increase in crash rates as well, and ride sharing services do not typically serve remote areas.
If you are injured, seek medical help. Keep all documentation with medical care and when you give a statement to police. You should contact an attorney to assist you in making sure that you are compensated for your losses and any suffering. The increase in ride share popularity shouldn’t mean the end of the line for your safety.
blogs
Common Causes for Tractor Trailer Accidents
There’s a good reason tractor trailers require a specialty license to operate them. They’re big, fast, heavy, and – in the wrong conditions – incredibly dangerous. It is estimated that 3.5 percent of all automobileaccidents each year involve tractor trailers. Around 4,600 of these result in some sort of fatality. This can be due to […]
The Most Unsafe Era for Pedestrians in 40 Years
Pedestrian safety is of utmost importance right now, and not just because pedestrians legally have the right of way in most places in the United States. Being asafer pedestrian is always key to avoiding injuries by being aware of ones surroundings and avoiding distractions, but as it stands, North Americans are not stemming the tide […]
Winter Rideshare Safety Tips
Winter driving is no joke in general. Everyone needs to slow down and be sure to take the proper winter driving precautions, but if you drive a rideshare, your point-to-point driving makes you more vulnerable to getting in an accident than if you were simply driving to and from work. Add to this the dangers […]
Five Products for Increased Pedestrian Safety
While pedestrians typically have the right of way in most places, that doesn’t automatically make everyone around you a better or safer driver. As pedestrians, we have to activelypractice safety in order to make sure that we are the ones most responsible for our personal safety. Staying aware of our surroundings is always step number […]
Personal Injury Lawsuits: What You Need to Know and how RS Law Office Can Help
Life is pretty unpredictable. One minute you’re healthy and bubbly, the next one you are nursing an injury due to someone else’s negligence. But the fact that life is unpredictable does not in any way reduce the pain and confusion that may arise when you find yourself in harm’s way due to another person’s negligence. […]
Common Causes of Car Accidents – and Ways to Avoid Them
Car accidents are an increasingly common source of injuries and loss of property and life. Every year, there are estimated to be over six million car accidents, in the US alone. We drive everywhere, and even short distances pose a hazard to drivers, as well as pedestrians and people on bicycles. The loss of property […]
Bicycle Accidents
Bicycles may be a reliably safe mode of transportation but, as in so many accidents out in the world, the problem is not often with the mode of transportation you’re in, but how the person who hits you is traveling. Every year, more than 50,000 bicyclists are injured in collisions with automobiles. Too few of […]
Clearing Up Workers Compensation Misconceptions
If we hear the term “workers comp,” we probably feel like we understand the basics – if you get hurt on the job, you file for workers comp, you get time off to heal and hopefully a little extra something along with your salary to make it all easier. In an ideal world, sure, it […]
Five Products for Increased Automobile Safety
It should be no surprise that in Arizona and California, with the increasing dependence on cars, automobile accidents are increasingly likely. In the event of an accident, you want to have as many bases covered as possible – from minor repairs you can do yourself to getting yourself out of harm’s way as quickly and […]
Pedestrian Safety in Cold Weather
When it’s cold outside, people drive worse than they did before. If you’re a pedestrian, you need to take extra precautions during the cold weather and, if you’re driving, you need to keep an extra eye out for pedestrians who are even harder to see, especially if snow is lowering your visibility. Safety is always […]
formulario de contacto
