Do Delivery Apps Encourage Careless Driving?
Car accidents rise by 3% whenever delivery apps or rideshare services enter a new area. While many believe that relying on delivery drivers makes the roads safer, there’s significant evidence that it does precisely the opposite. This is how delivery apps encourage careless driving.
Speed
The more orders an app-driver completes, the more money they make. Speed is the limiting factor in the number of orders fulfilled. A delivery driver trying to maximize their income is more likely to risk unprotected left turns, run changing lights, and roll through stop signs.
At the same time, orders have a tight delivery schedule. This gives drivers extra pressure to make those risky maneuvers and, at the same time, encourages them to race against the suggested time limit.
Deadheading
The most dangerous part of food delivery apps is what happens between orders. About 50% of a delivery driver’s time is spent “deadheading,” driving aimlessly while waiting for the next order. Without direction, delivery drivers are adding unnecessary traffic to the road and wasting gas. Yet there’s no way to know where the next order might come from.
Compare this to a traditional pizza delivery driver, who doesn’t face the same issue. A pizza delivery driver leaves their store, delivers the prepared orders, and then returns to wait for the next order. A DoorDash driver is always on the move and without a “home store” to return to.
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These factors encourage reckless driving on their own, but together they may be causing more crashes than anyone realizes. Worst of all, app-delivery drivers usually don’t have additional coverage. DoorDash drivers only receive company insurance when a customer’s order is in the vehicle. When a smooth recovery and proper coverage are on the line, victims can’t take any chances. Anyone injured by these delivery drivers should contact an attorney ASAP.
If you or someone you love suffered serious injuries or even wrongful death at the hands of a delivery driver, we are here for you. If you’d like an experienced Modesto car accident lawyer from Law Offices of Dean Petrulakis to evaluate your case, please send us an email or call (209) 528-0404.