The automobile invention has drastically improved the societal quality of life. Unfortunately, along with all the advantages it provided, it also had several negative implications, including traffic accidents caused by drunk driving. These accidents result in thousands of death yearly, constituting almost one-third of total traffic accidents nationwide (Snead, 2017). In light of drunk driving occurrences, despite the efforts to combat it, technological advances can provide innovative and surprisingly efficient results.
In Ohio, a Municipal Court Judge, Michael Cicconetti, imposes an unusual punishment for the people involved in drunk driving. According to Snead (2017), he makes installing a ride-sharing application a part of these drivers’ probation period. In doing so, Cicconetti provides drivers with a viable and cost-efficient alternative for cases when they have to use the car while having an alcohol intoxication. Compared to the cost of a fee for a drunk driving conviction and other potentially catastrophic consequences, using the car-sharing service seems reasonably logical. The court order to install a ride-sharing application falls under the category of “any other conditions of community control that it (court) considers necessary” of paragraph 4511.19 of Ohio’s Revised Code (Ohio Revised Code, n.d.). Nevertheless, it might not be considered order as such, given how effortless and educative it can be in light of the opportunities it provides to offenders.
Apart from common sense, the positive impact of ride-sharing applications on alcohol-related traffic accidents is confirmed by various studies. For instance, the study by Blazquez et al. (2021) has highlighted the direct relationship between technology adoption rate and the number of car crashes. In particular, the protective effect of car-sharing services was more apparent in cities with a greater proportion of users having access to both a cell phone and a credit card (Blazquez et al., 2021). Apart from that, the level of public transport infrastructure development also influences the total contribution of applications to traffic accident rate reduction. In short, the more possible alternatives there are, the less would be the effect of each particular one.
Overall, the fact that courts have started recognizing ride-sharing applications as means of reducing the car accident rate bears the most significance. The sole deeds of Michael Cicconetti might not seem groundbreaking; however, they can be considered a precedent with great potential. As scholars such as Blazquez et al. invest more time into researching various technological implications, future road safety becomes less and less distant.
References
Blazquez, C., Laurent, J. G. C., & Nazif-Munoz, J. I. (2021). Differential impacts of ridesharing on alcohol-related crashes by socioeconomic municipalities: Rate of technology adoption matters. BMC public health, 21(1), 1-12. Web.
Ohio Revised Code. (n.d.). Weisenburger. Web.
Snead, J. (2017). This judge is using a phone app to combat drunk driving. The Heritage Foundation. Web.