Traffic law – „Bye Bye drunk riding“

The digital nudge "Bye Bye drunk riding" targets the safe use of e-scooters in road traffic, focusing on the prevention of drunken use of e-scooters.
For this purpose, a disclaimer will be implemented in the app of the e-scooter providers, which is intended to discourage drunken driving by means of safety warnings and legal consequences.
In the actual implementation, the nudge is to be displayed in the app in a time window from Friday to Sunday between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., since most drunk driving takes place during this period.
The restricted times, as well as the different wording and presentation of the information, counteract the habituation effect.

What does the topic mean?

Traffic law in general includes all regulations and legal norms that deal with a change of place of people and goods. 66 paragraphs in combination with over 400 traffic signs provide the foundation for safe and regulated road traffic. But why do road users consistently decide to disregard the applicable regulations in some situations and thus directly endanger their traffic environment? Whether speeding or drunk driving, the list of offenses is long and the behaviour exhibited can rarely be explained rationally. 
In addition to emotions, attitudes and personal motives, the above-mentioned increase in irrational behaviour represents a decisive challenge in road traffic, which must be solved with sustainable, fair and evidence-based measures.

Goal of the nudge

As a means of transport, the e-scooter plays a decisive role in the urban micromobility strategy and is becoming an increasingly popular means of transport for many road users. With the help of our nudge, not only the usage of the e-scooter should be made safer, but also a general reduction of the accident risk should be achieved and the general road safety should be increased.
Needs Analysis
Increasing relevance in micromobility
The market for micromobility is growing two to three times faster than that of carsharing, which is causing a change in the traffic structure and thus having a significant impact on general road safety.
Alcoholized use
The most common cause of accidents is the drunken usage of e-scooters and it is increasingly observed on weekends between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am.
E-scooter accidents
In 2020, there were 2.155 e-scooter accidents with personal injuries, including 386 serious injuries and 5 deaths. Overall, twice as many accidents happen with e-scooters compared to bicycles, and compared to pedestrians, the accident record is even seven times higher.
Cause Analysis
Present Bias
The current advantage of fast and uncomplicated motion is considered to an above-average extent by e-scooter users in their decision-making, so that potential consequences in form of a crime or an accident are mostly ignored.
Overconfidence Bias
Individuals believe themselves to be less susceptible to danger than others and consequently act too optimistically. A typical thought pattern is as follows " So far I have never caused an accident, then it won't happen to me this time!"
Hyperbolic discounting
A disproportionately high value is placed on the immediate satisfaction of need, such as moving quickly despite being under the influence of alcohol.
Lack of information and false belief
Information on legislation and potential criminal prosecution regarding drunk driving is predominantly lacking. Incorrectly, the legal treatment of e-scooters is often equated with the legal treatment of bicycles.

Target Group

Our target group includes persons who intend to use the e-scooter while intoxicated and thereby actively endanger their own road safety as well as that of uninvolved participants.

Added value of the nudge

Accident reduction
by reducing the usage of an e-scooter while being intoxicated.
Optimization of choice architecture
by creating increased awareness of legal consequences.
Increase of Commitment
through the rise of more rule-compliant behavior in road traffic.
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