The cost of convenience: Ridehailing and traffic fatalities

We examine the effect of introduction ridehailing in US cities on fatal traffic accidents. The arrival is associated with an approximately 3% increase number accidents, for both vehicle occupants and pedestrians. Consistent increasing road usage, we find that its increases proxies congestion new car registrations. a driver quality channel, accident are concentrated ridehailing-eligible vehicles those passenger configurations suggestive ridehailing. Back-of-the-envelope estimates annual cost human lives range from $5.33B to $13.24B. propose various operational policy prescriptions regulation operations may help limit such externalities.