DUI is an epidemic around our country. More often than not, people are turning to Uber, Lyft and other ridesharing services to stay safe on the roads. When you’re going out with friends, a few extra bucks can ensure you have a designated driver who hasn’t been drinking. This means you and yours can have a good time without concern, right?
In fact, California has just passed a new law making ridesharing an even safer option. Now, drivers for these ridesharing companies are going to be held to an even stricter standard for blood alcohol than other, private drivers. Learn about the new California law limiting the blood alcohol content of Uber, Lyft and ridesharing drivers, and what it means for you when you’re out on the town.
New DUI Law for Uber Drivers
Most people are considered to be under the legal limit for blood alcohol content, or BAC, so long as they are at .08 or less. The new law in California limits BAC for ridesharing drivers to .04 or less. This law applies the same standards to these services as other commercial passenger services like buses and taxi cabs.
This means is a single alcoholic beverage can raise a driver’s BAC to or above the legal limit for purposes of driving passengers. As such, you should be able to safely assume your Lyft driver is completely sober and hasn’t been drinking at all when you get in the car.
Driving Impairment
What many people don’t realize is that even a BAC of .04 can impair a driver. The impairment is slight, but it is there. That’s why the law puts much stricter limits on commercial drivers–these people are responsible for the life and safety of their passengers. While these companies are advertised their services as safe, however, there have been some questions about that.
Between the years 2014 and 2015, Uber alone got approximately 2,000 complaints from riders regarding drivers potentially under the influence of alcohol or other substances. In almost 600 cases, Uber fired drivers after investigating the complaints. In spite of this, the company only provided evidence to the PUC for about 22 of 154 investigated cases.
Improving DUI Standards
Uber claims they have improved their processes since that year, and Assembly Bill 2687, the law in question, was unanimously passed in 2016. It delayed the implementation date and is scheduled to go into effect soon. The DMV intends to hold rideshare drivers to a much higher standard than ever before regarding these issues.
When to Hire an Attorney
If you’re involved in an accident while riding as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft vehicle, or in another car that collides with a ridesharing vehicle, and you think the driver was intoxicated or otherwise impaired, you may be entitled to compensation for the injuries you suffered. Keep in mind, however, you will need the help of a qualified Uber accident attorney. If you’re in the San Francisco area and you need help, the Gruber Law Group can help. Give us a call for a free consultation today.