Rideshare apps are all the rage these days, but despite claims by one company that they've helped take a bite out of DUI arrests, police say they're not exactly buying it.

The LAPD has confirmed that there are fewer DUI arrests in the city since these personal drivers started making their rounds, and yes, the numbers have dwindled since Uber and Lyft arrived on the scene in 2012, but there could be other reasons for the trend.

Increased driver education could be one of them.  Or, perhaps the public is starting to think more before getting behind the wheel of a car after tossing back a few adult beverages.

Any college statistics professor will tell you that correlation doesn't mean causation- ie:  just because two things run parallel doesn't mean that one led to the other, but rideshare groups have decided to run with it, nonetheless.

Earlier this year, an Uber blog post claimed the company could be credited for the nearly 10 percent drop in DUI arrests in Seattle (thus leading to fewer DUI bail bonds).  But Seattle police have the same skepticism as do their LAPD counterparts.

A similar trend has been reported in the San Francisco Bay Area although law enforcement in NorCal are hardly jumping on the "rideshare programs equal fewer arrests" bandwagon, either.

Experts say there are any number of reasons this trend has started to emerge and there could be many different factors at play.

Immediate gratification could be the key

One of the most daunting things to endure after a night out on the town involves hailing a taxi.  Or, if you decide to call into a company's 800 number, you could spend up to 30 minutes on hold before some dispatcher tells you you'll have to wait another 45 minutes for someone to arrive.

With apps like Uber and Lyft, however, you can see an interactive map of where you're standing and which drivers are in the area.  With a quick click of a button you can call someone to your location.

Not only do the apps tell you exactly how long it will take for someone to get there (frequently less than 5 minutes)-  it's pretty spot on with its predictions.

Since the ride request is more of an immediate gratification as opposed to a painstaking hassle, there's a chance that fewer intoxicated people are losing their patience (and thus deciding to roll the dice).

All in all it's hard to say, but if the streets are safer with these companies around, well that's certainly not a bad thing.

Read the full story here: Uber says they're reducing DUI arrests, but police say there's no way to tell