The effect of ridesharing services on motor vehicle crash outcomes: A systematic review and practice management guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma

Elinore J. Kaufman, From the Division of Traumatology, Surgical Critical Care, and Emergency Surgery (E.J.K.), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Division of Acute Care and Regional General Surgery (H.S.J.), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin; Division of Acute Care Surgery (A.T.), Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Burns & Acute Care Surgery (C.C.), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona; Department of Surgery (J.M.B.), University of Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut; Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery (L.L.P.), Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Division of Burns, Trauma, Acute and Critical Care Surgery, Department of Surgery (L.D.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; Department of Surgery (J.D.), Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (N.L.), Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, La Jolla, California; Department of Surgery (R.W.), Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, Lakeland, Florida; Department of Surgery (S.K.), The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC; SciTech Commons (K.M.Q.), Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana; Department of Surgery (S.R.), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; and Department of Surgery (P.M.), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Hee Soo Jung
Amanda Teichman
Christina Colosimo
Jennifer M. Brewer
Lindsey L. Perea
Linda Dultz
Justin Dvorak
Ning Lu
Raquel Weston
Susan Kartiko
Kefeng Maylene Qiu
Shayan Rakhit
Patrick Murphy

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

4-4-2025

Journal

The journal of trauma and acute care surgery

DOI

10.1097/TA.0000000000004614

Keywords

Rideshare; motor vehicle crash; ridehail

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In addition to their convenience, ridesharing applications (apps) have the potential to offer a safer transportation alternative, especially in situations involving intoxication. Their use may lead to reductions in crash-related injuries and deaths, particularly due to alcohol-impaired driving. Several observational studies have aimed to assess the impact of ridesharing on alcohol-impaired driving, crashes, and deaths. Our goal was to systematically review the literature to inform policy makers and public health practitioners on the use of ridesharing apps in the reduction of crash injuries and deaths. METHODS: We performed an evidence-based systematic review using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology to answer the following population, intervention, comparator, outcomes questions: (1) For the general population, should the presence of ridesharing services compared with no ridesharing be recommended for reducing motor vehicle crash (MVC)-related harms? (2) In the general population, should more versus less use of ridesharing services be recommended for reducing MVC-related harm? Our project was registered with the PROSPERO registry of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (CRD42023407489). We searched literature published from January 1, 2009 (first ridesharing app available), through December 31, 2022, using PubMed, web of science, and Scopus. RESULTS: Fifteen studies met the criteria for inclusion, covering a variety of geographies, populations, and methodological approaches. All evidence was observational, and overall quality of evidence was low. However, most studies (N = 11) showed benefit of ridesharing services for specific outcomes, with only one study indicating harm (increased total MVCs). CONCLUSION: Based on the available evidence, ridesharing may have a valuable role to play in reducing MVC-related harm. Public policy should consider ridesharing apps in the broader scheme of efforts to reduce driving-related morbidity and mortality. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Systematic Review; Level III.

Department

Surgery

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS