Batbold Boldbaatar, a full-time Uber driver of more than four years in Washington state, said that he considers driving for Uber to be a service to his community because it reduces the risk of someone driving while intoxicated.
The National Bureau of Economic Research backs Boldbaatar's statement, as they released a July report that found ridesharing has decreased alcohol-related traffic deaths in the United States by 6.1%. The report also revealed that ridesharing decreased overall traffic-related deaths by 4%.
"Of course, you know, because we all know there are about 2 million people (who) get injured or, you know, died because of this, the collision on the streets in a year in the US, right?" Boldbaatar said. "So many of them are drunk driving and not getting it so well. So, ... (it's a) great service to help out the community. When the drunk people get a ride and not risking their lives, you know? ... I like that part."
The report took data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) along with rideshare data from Uber.
"Our results suggest that ridesharing can play an important role in reducing these deaths," the report said.
Driving under the influence (DUI) means operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including marijuana and prescription medications, a release by Enjuris said.
"Per se DUI" and "impairment DUI" are the two types of DUI charges in the state, the release said. An individual may be charged with a per se DUI if their breath or blood test shows either a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08% or higher for adults over 21; a BAC of .04% of higher for drivers of commercial vehicles; a BAC of 0.02% or higher for minors under the age of 21; or a THC concentration that is 5 nanograms or over per milliliter of blood. An individual may be charged with an impairment DUI if they have been "affected" by alcohol or drugs while operating a motor vehicle, even if they've consumed an amount less than the legal limit.
In Washington state, 50% of all traffic deaths involve impaired drivers, a report by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission said. Over 25,000 impaired drivers were arrested in Washington in 2017, and an average of 149 people are killed in crashes involving impaired drivers each summer.
Impaired drivers caused 124 fatal crashes and 581 "serious injury" crashes in Washington state in 2020, the Enjuris release said. Almost 30 people are killed each day in drunk driving accidents across the United States.