Sobering numbers from Erie County Central Police Services show despite the availability of Uber and Lyft, there were actually more arrests for DWI in the first quarter this year compared to last year.
Central Police Services reports there have been 410 DWI arrests in the first quarter of this year, compared to the 406 last year.
"People are still making the wrong choice to get behind the wheel," said Elizabeth Obad, President of Mother's Against Drunk Driving in Erie County. "Every step including ridesharing is a link in the chain to try and stop this."
Obad's son was killed by a drunk driver more than 20 years ago. Studies show one in every three Americans is involved in an alcohol related crash in their lifetime.
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn says despite the numbers, there's no doubt ridesharing is saving lives.
"You can't base it on four months of statistics and use that as a basis for analysing."
Flynn says studies to determine the effect of ridesharing can take years.
