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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT04949711

Impacts of Subsidized Ridesharing on Drunk Driving, Alcohol Consumption, and Mobility

The purpose of this research study is to understand people's alcohol use in public places and their risks for harm. The overall goal of this study is to test the effects of subsidized ridesharing as an intervention to reduce self-reported alcohol-impaired driving, along with alcohol consumption and changes to mobility.

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Key information

Conditions

Driving Drunk Alcohol Drinking Behavior Criminal Behavior Dangerous Behavior Drinking Behavior Driving Under the Influence

Age range

21 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

New York, 10032, United States

About this study

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people aged 13-25 years in the US, and approximately 31% of all fatal crashes involved some alcohol use. Several peer-reviewed studies have found that ridesharing was associated with fewer alcohol-involved crashes and DUI arrests. Theories of behavioral economics provide a clear theoretical mechanism by which ridesharing will reduce alcohol-involved motor vehicle crashes compared to other private transportation. However, while ridesharing may be an effective intervention to reduce alcohol-involved crashes, it may simultaneously increase alcohol consumption. This study will assess the impacts of subsidized ridesharing on impaired driving, alcohol consumption, and mobility. Participants will be randomized to either receive a rideshare voucher or an online shopping voucher, and effects on alcohol impaired driving and alcohol consumption will be measured. A GPS sub-group will use a custom smartphone application for GPS tracking to measure mobility.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • ≥ 21 years old
  • Reside in a study city
  • Have a driver's license
  • Have access to a motor vehicle
  • Have consumed alcohol in a bar in the last 30 days
  • Own a smartphone
  • Read English

Exclusion criteria

  • Non-English speaking participants

Treatment and study plan

ridesharing voucher

Behavioral

Ridesharing vouchers will be given for completing each of the online surveys, for a possible total of $80 if you complete all three surveys. You will be paid with electronic vouchers that will be sent to your cell phone.

Other names: Uber voucher

online shopping voucher

Behavioral

Online shopping vouchers will be given for completing each of the online surveys, for a possible total of $80 if you complete all three surveys. You will be paid with electronic vouchers that will be sent to your cell phone.

Other names: Amazon voucher

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants Involved in Alcohol Impaired Driving Incidents

    Time frame: At 1 week follow-up from baseline

    Participants will provide two self-reported measures of impaired driving by indicating whether they "drove after drinking any alcohol" (driving after drinking) and "drove after drinking too much alcohol to drive safely" (driving while intoxicated) for each day during the previous 7 days. Data is recorded at baseline and at 1 week follow-up.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Number of Days in Alcohol Consumption

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week follow-up

    Participants will be asked to state the number of drinks consumed on each day for the 7 previous days, and their responses will be used to calculate the frequency (defined as the number of drinking days) of drinking.

  2. Average Number of Trips to Alcohol Outlets

    Time frame: Day 3 to Day 17 of study

    Participants enrolled in the GPS sub-sample will be tracked and GPS records will be used to measure exposure to alcohol outlets and mobility.

  3. Average Duration of Trips to Alcohol Outlets

    Time frame: Day 3 to Day 17 of study

    Participants enrolled in the GPS sub-sample will be tracked and GPS records will be used measure exposure to alcohol outlets and mobility.

  4. Change in The Drinker Inventory of Consequences Score

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week follow-up

    Select questions related to The Drinker Inventory of Consequences (DrInC), a measure of alcohol-related consequences on which higher scores reflect greater alcohol consequences. (Score range: 0-8)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Columbia University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jul 2, 2021
Registry last updated
Apr 17, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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