These days, you can practically have anything delivered right to your doorstep. From food and electronics to furniture andeven cars. The 2020 pandemic has certainly increased our at-home shopping and need for delivered products, thanks to social distancing restrictions as well as convenience.
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Online shopping is a thing, delivery drivers are here to stay
According to Domo, six million people shopped online during every minute of each day in 2021. Customers spent $283,000 every minute on Amazon. While InstaCart users spent $67,000. With so much online buying, delivery drivers are in high demand. In fact, Zippia this year reported over 1.3 million delivery drivers employed in the U.S. right now, with the majority found in Houston, Texas, and New York, New York.
61% of delivery drivers were over the age of 40 years old; most of which have children (Gridwise)
Delivery drivers are generally gig workers, or independent contractors working for themselves. These types of drivers deliver a wide variety of goods including groceries, office supplies, retail purchases, and more. Delivery drivers typically work with companies like Uber Eats, Raodie, Shipt, Drizly, Postmates, and Instacart. They tend to prefer Toyotas for their work as delivery drivers, followed by Honda and Nissan models according to a Gridwise survey.
It can be challenging to deliver goods
With so much time on the road, going from here to there, and back again, delivery drivers are at a higher risk for all types of incidents on the road. They encounter more types of motorists and drive through all types of inclement weather. These include motorcyclists, cyclists, school bus drivers, rideshare passengers, vulnerable pedestrians, and of course, hundreds of heavy-duty truck drivers doing interstate deliveries.
Driving safety for delivery drivers can be challenging, since staying safe in and around your vehicle goes beyond just the road. Aside from the actual driving, delivery drivers are loading and unloading packages in between all that mileage. These pick-ups and drop-offs are added opportunities for various types of accidents, from property damage to unexpectedly hitting a pedestrian.
SEE MORE: DRIVING SAFETY FOR RIDESHARE DRIVERS
Driving safety tips for delivery drivers
There’s plenty to pay extra attention to, aside from speed limits and distracted drivers on the road. Neighborhood children for example, playing outside or in driveways. Back-over accidents result in about 50 children’s fatalities every week in the U.S., according to KidsandCars online. Timing also adds extra pressure since most deliveries have set deadlines, and can even affect a delivery driver’s satisfaction ratings.
Over 60% of backing up incidents involved a larger size vehicle like a truck, van, or SUV
• If you’re a delivery driver, make sure you protect yourself throughout every step of every trip you make. Always stay aware of your surroundings, especially when it starts to get darker outside.
• Park your vehicle in a safe spot, with plenty of light, especially when days become shorter and nightfall comes earlier. If you’re delivering into an apartment complex or have to park in indoor garage, use your headlights to help you light up your path.
• Don’t carry a lot of cash with you, and keep your personal belongings to a minimum like a cellphone. And speaking of personal belongings, always lock up your delivery van or vehicle, even if you’re just going up a few stairs to deliver a lunch order.
• For extra protection, you can add a dashcam to your vehicle should you need to fill up a car insurance claim for any damage or crash.
Never leave your car running, while you’re out delivering packages
• Always drive defensively, be aware of your environment, and look ahead for unexpected vehicles such as a motorcycle weaving in and out of lanes.
• Try to not take shortcuts both on isolated roads and within a specific area, such as entering a building by a side door.
• Keep a flashlight in your vehicle, should you ever need extra lighting or locate house addresses in dim areas
Always have your driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of auto insurance handy
• Don’t forget to get enough sleep, drowsy driving or fatigued can have you missing turns, drifting from lane to lane, and worse
• Since you’re part of the gig economy, you can probably make up your schedule, so pick yours where you’re most alert, and are most comfortable on the road
• Always respect speed limits and leave enough distance between you and other drivers
• Make sure you maintain your vehicle regularly. As a delivery driver, you put more miles on your car than regular commuters. Keep up with oil changes, change to winter tires if you need to, and top off any fluids for proper care.
The National Highway Traffic Safety says 2% of crashes are due to mechanical issues: tires, brakes, and steering, transmission, suspension, or engine issues
• Never drive on auto-pilot.
• Look out for hidden driveways, pets darting out, and school zones
Follow the driving safety tips above to stay as safe as possible when your head out for your deliveries!