DoorDash adding security features in effort to protect drivers

DoorDash announced on Wednesday it is adding new security features in an effort to protect drivers, who have been targeted in multiple violent attacks this year. 

The San Francisco-based company said on Wednesday it is partnering with security company ADT on the new features, which will be available to drivers by the end of 2021. 

Using the new system, drivers who feel unsafe can contact an ADT agent using a button on the company’s app. The agent will stay on the line until the driver feels comfortable. If the driver drops the connection, ADT will then call 911. 

The company is also adding an emergency-assistance button to its app, which drivers can swipe to request immediate assistance. ADT will then contact 911 and remain in touch with the delivery driver through text messages.

“Our commitment to safety is central to what our teams at DoorDash work towards every day,” Elizabeth Jarvis-Shean, DoorDash’s vice president of communications and policy, said in a statement. 

“We’ve heard from Dashers across the country who tell us that safety is a top consideration when choosing which platforms they work with. That’s why over the years, we’ve worked hard on new products, policies, and partnerships that reflect what we hear from Dashers,” she continued. 

The new initiative comes after a series of high-profile attacks on delivery drivers this year. 

In March, A 19-year-old DoorDash driver in Columbus, Ohio, was beaten after he got confused about an address. And in August, a DoorDash driver was shot to death while making deliveries in Maryland, the AP reported. 

DoorDash’s new security measures are similar to safety features rolled out by other gig driving companies. 

Instacart added a button to its app last year allowing shoppers to instantly contact emergency services. Lyft and Uber also have in-app buttons allowing riders and drivers to contact emergency responders.