Kiwis who may have otherwise driven under the influence have instead been using Uber, new research suggests.
When surveyed, 70 per cent of Uber users said they had used the service after they'd been drinking, preferring it to other forms of public transport or walking.
The survey, carried out by Emperica Research for Uber, found that 41 per cent of respondents who drink said Uber had helped them personally to avoid drink driving. That rose to 68 per cent when excluding respondents who said the question was not applicable to them. This could be users who don't drink or don't have a car.
Three quarters of respondents believed that Uber helped to reduce drink driving in their community.
Emperica Research managing director Cassie Govan said the research showed Uber was having an impact.
"I don't necessarily think they're talking about high-level drink driving, it might be people who've had a couple of drinks and you think 'oh, am I over or not?' And I think it's that level of drink driving that we're talking about here.
"It's probably a little bit more expensive than public transport but the ease and availability late at night when the drinking's probably happening probably makes it a more attractive option for people. And cabs are probably a bit more expensive and a bit less available at those times of night."
Over 300 Uber users from New Zealand completed the survey.
National Road Policing Manager Superintendent Steve Greally said police encouraged anyone out socialising to make plans beforehand to get home safely.
"While we do not keep statistics on what methods people use to get home after drinking, we applaud anyone who chooses not to drink and drive and uses a safe alternative for getting home."
