Impact of carsharing services on urban car accidents: An antithetic role of driving experience

Abstract

Carsharing services have gained popularity as part of the sharing economy trend, allowing individuals to share assets and services online. This study explores the impact of access-based consumption services like carsharing on driving behaviors and urban car accidents, drawing from existing literature on consumption patterns. Through a difference-in-differences analysis using data from major carsharing companies, it is found that the introduction of carsharing services has a mixed effect on car accidents, influenced by drivers' experience levels. While accidents involving inexperienced or young drivers tend to increase, those involving experienced drivers remain unaffected. These findings have significance for both theory and management in understanding the dynamics of carsharing's influence on driving habits.