Driving under the influence of alcohol continues to be one of the leading causes of car accidents in cities across the United States. Fortunately for Portland residents, there are a variety of alternative forms of transportation to rely on if you are out for a night of drinking with friends or have overindulged on a special occasion. In addition to preventing potentially serious injuries, choosing a ride service rather than driving yourself can help you avoid getting a DUI and facing the associated penalties.
Driving Services Available In Portland
According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 100 drivers each year in Oregon are killed as the result of drunk driving accidents, while thousands more suffer serious and potentially disabling injuries. Roughly one in every three traffic fatalities in the U.S. is alcohol-related, despite increased public awareness and the efforts of law enforcement. While drivers can be cited for driving under the influence for having a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or above, any amount of alcohol can impair your driving abilities and make accidents more likely to occur.
If you have had too much to drink, there are a variety of options available in Portland to assist you in getting home safely. Travel Portland recommends checking out the following:
- MAX Light Rail, which has 97 stations and 60 miles of track to carry travels between downtown Portland and the airport, running every 15 minutes, seven days a week;
- Portland Streetcar, which also runs every 15 minutes throughout the downtown area Monday through Saturday until 11:30 p.m. and every 20 minutes until 10:30 p.m. on Sunday;
- TriMet busses, which run virtually around the clock and offer mobile ticketing through your cellphone;
- Broadway Cab, which is Portland’s largest taxicab fleet;
- PDX Pedicab, which is an eco-friendly service, operating throughout the downtown area.
In addition to the variety of shuttles and cab service providers, ridesharing services such as Lyft and Uber are generally available at any hour and from any location.
The Future Of Uber In The Portland Area
If you are currently an Uber fan, you may need to think about other arrangements, as there are rumors the ride sharing giant may be leaving Portland due to a possible subpoena. An April 2017 Oregon Live report states that the city is seeking to get a look at Uber’s ‘playbook’, which allegedly shows how Uber used a computer software program known as Greyball to dodge regulations prior to it being licensed to serve riders in our area.
An investigation was launched after a story broke in the New York Times that Uber had used the software to dodge hails from city code enforcers for two weeks in 2014. While Lyft, Uber’s top competitor in the ride sharing business, is also named in the investigation, there is no evidence of the same types of practices. For now, both companies remain in service.
Whether you rely on these services or some other form of public transportation, the main goal is to avoid getting behind the wheel once you have been drinking. In the event you or someone you care about is injured by a drunk driver, contact the Johnston Law Firm to see how we can help.