Is DoorDash Safe? 6 Features & 5 Tips To Make It So

DoorDash takes the safety of its Dasher community very seriously, and has created many in-app safety features that we will cover in this post. We’ll also discuss some strategies Dashers can employ to maximize their own safety.

A breakdown of the in-app safety features

Real-Time Safety Alerts

DoorDash will attempt to cancel orders in the event of an emergency.

DoorDash has partnered with Samdesk to keep dashers out of harm's way in dangerous or emergency situations like bomb threats, active shootings, fires, or hazardous weather. DoorDash will send a notification to the dasher alerting them of the event and proactively cancel any orders close to the impacted area.

Scott Jones, a Dasher with over 4 years of experience, heard from a fellow Dasher about this feature in action: “He was shopping for DoorDash at the Germantown, TN, Kroger, when his app told him he was in an ‘active shooting’. It even told him to run as quickly as he could, because he was within 700 feet of the shooter.”

SafeChat

Chat communications can be reported using DoorDash's SafeChat feature if a Dasher feels threatened or unsafe during communication with a customer. The Dasher has the ability to report any offensive or abusive messages and/or unassign the delivery. All reports sent to DoorDash are kept private and the identity of the dasher remains anonymous. Reporting a customer for offensive language does not affect the Dasher's rating.

Porch Light Reminders

In some areas, DoorDash automatically sends a request to turn on exterior lights to customers who place orders from 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM. This makes it easier for the Dasher to see the delivery address and enhances their safety during deliveries at night.

Scott recommends Dashers take this a step further, “I deliberately send a text when I get the food from the restaurant, and I say ‘Hello, I am Scott, your Dasher, I have your order, I am on my way, see you in a few minutes. Please do me a favor and have your porch light on for me, and if there are any special instructions to find your door, please let me know. Thank you so much. It is a pleasure serving you.’” - he’s noticed that message has helped him increase the number of people that actually go through and turn on their light.

Safety Reporting

If a customer ever makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe during an interaction you have the ability to report their behavior to a safety agent by tapping Chat Support. The safety agent can help opt you out of future deliveries to the customer. Dashers have the ability to block customers without it impacting their dasher rating.

"A majority of Dashers are women (58%) and overwhelmingly prefer delivery over rideshare because they believe it's safer (97%)" - DoorDash - 2021 National Dasher Survey

SafeDash

SafeDash is an in-app safety toolkit powered by ADT to ensure dashers feel safe and to give them peace of mind.

• Safety Reassurance Call: A dasher can directly connect to an ADT agent 24/7 if they're feeling uncomfortable in a delivery situation.
• Emergency Assistance Button: A dasher can silently swipe to request emergency assistance. The dasher's location will be shared with 911 services.
• SafeDash Check-In: If a dash appears to be taking the dasher longer than expected, ADT resources will automatically display and the dasher can easily connect for assistance if necessary.

These SafeDash features are easily accessed by simply tapping the blue shield icon inside the app.

SafeDash features in-action

Reviews of this particular safety feature set are mixed. Scott has observed: “Most of the Dashers that I have worked with have made comments that mirror my own feelings about those safety buttons: If you were 10 miles out of town, up some country road, with limited cell service, at some possibly unknown address, and a safety issue arises neither ADT, nor the Police can help you in time.”

So we recommend prioritizing some of the other safety approaches described earlier in this post - or read on for some tips you can take upon yourself to leverage.

Safety tips to take matters into your own hands

Prioritize Dashing in the daytime

The great thing about driving for DoorDash is you control your schedule. If dashing at night makes you uncomfortable, dash during daytime hours.

Granted, if you are in a less busy area, it may be difficult to get orders assigned to you outside of lunch and dinner rush hours - the ability to Dash can be subject to local availability on the DoorDash platform.

Know the geography of your neighborhood

Know your neighborhood and areas you're willing to deliver in. You'll be able to see pickup and delivery locations before you accept a Dash. Avoid the areas that you know aren't safe or make you uncomfortable.

Dash with a buddy

DoorDash allows you to dash with a friend or family member tagging along in the car. They can be helpful with everyone from holding sodas as you drive, handling Google Maps navigation so you can keep your eyes on the road, and give you strength in numbers if you find yourself Dashing through any unsafe neighborhoods.

Choose to do contactless deliveries

Dashers and customers have the ability to request deliveries that are contactless. A contactless delivery means there is no contact with the customer. You drop the delivery at their front door or where requested, snap a photo, and send to the customer through the app. These days, most deliveries are contactless, so turning this option on shouldn’t limit your available offers too much.

Stay focused on driving

DoorDash minimizes in-app notifications dashers receive while they are driving. Less important notifications are muted until the Dasher indicates they have arrived at their destination. This allows Dashers to stay focused on the road and driving safely.

One tap messaging is a new in-app customer response feature currently (as of mid 2023) in the pilot stage of the DoorDash app. Customers have the ability to message their Dasher while the Dasher is driving. This feature would allow the Dasher to reply quickly with a single tap of a button and stay focused on the road.

Stay aware of your surroundings

Making sure you are always aware of your surroundings can help you keep yourself safe and avoid being put in difficult situations. If you receive abnormal requests, like to come into the household or do something that makes you uncomfortable, you should contact support and explain the situation. Never let a customer convince you that an uncomfortable situation is normal or okay.

In Summary

DoorDash takes the safety of their workers seriously and makes it a top priority. There are a variety of in-app features and safety suggestions that keep dashers safe and give them peace of mind. DoorDash is always listening to their dashers for ways to further improve their experiences, and they continue to develop new safety features and initiatives.

"Last year's national Dasher survey found 97% of female Dashers and 95% of male Dashers prefer delivery over rideshare in part because they believe it's safer."

DoorDash - 2021 National Dasher Survey

Get started Dashing

DoorDash is constantly working on making Dashing a safer experience. Ready to start your application process? Find the application here to get started.