Slashdot Mirror
Alcohol-Related Car Accidents Declined In New York After Introduction of Uber, Analysis Finds (economist.com)
According to a new paper from Jessica Lynn Peck of the Graduate Center at the City University of New York, ride-hailing services may have helped reduce alcohol-related traffic accidents by 25-30% in New York City. The report specifically focuses on Uber, which was first introduced in the city in May 2011, and looks at how the ride-hailing service has impacted New York City. The Economist notes in its report that Uber is "largely banned outside of New York City." From the report: To control for factors unrelated to Uber's launch such as adverse weather conditions, Ms Peck compares accident rates in each of New York's five boroughs to those in the counties where Uber was not present, picking those that had the most similar population density and pre-2011 drunk-driving rate. The four boroughs which were quick to adopt Uber -- Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx--
all saw decreases in alcohol-related car crashes relative to their controls. By contrast, Staten Island, where Uber caught on more slowly, saw no such decrease.
Look, half the reason people come to NYC is the fact that you don't drive - you take cabs or the subways. I know drunkards that moved here JUST for the ability to get drunk at any time of day or night and get home without driving.
I could see Uber cutting down alcohol related driving accidents in any other part of the world - even in Queens or Brooklyn (as there are places far from subways that cabs don't visit).
But if you are drunk and driving in MANHATTAN, you should be put in prison for being stupid, rather than for DWI.
excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
Keep in mind that in Texas, there's nothing worthwhile to hit.
it isn't accidental, it's criminally negligent
You're describing two different parts of the situation in one sentence. You can't be criminally negligent at a time when two cars come together without the process also being accidental. Otherwise it wouldn't be criminally negligent but rather attempted murder or something with similar criminal intent.
Criminal negligence is a process that ultimately leads to the accident. Negligent people don't actually try and injure others, but they possess poor judgement protecting others.
A car accident may be the result of criminal negligence or may be truly accidental. The only time it stops being a car accident is if you attempt to mow down someone on purpose.