Transport Policy in the Digital Age: Insights from the Entry of Ride-Hailing Platforms in Chile

Abstract We empirically assess the impact of ride-hailing platforms on the incidence of drunk-driving fatal crashes and fatalities in Chile. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we study heterogeneous effects in fatalities by gender and role in the crash (driver or passenger). Our results suggest that the introduction of ride-hailing platforms has significantly reduced fatal crashes and fatalities, especially the number of female passengers’ fatalities and the number of male drivers’ fatalities at night. The former result may evidence that ride-hailing platforms like Uber can contribute to the mitigation of the mobility bias against women in the traditional transport sector.