Boston city officials sent a written letter to the top executives of DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber, warning them about an "alarming increase in unlawful and dangerous operation" of delivery vehicles. "These dangerous behaviors cannot continue," the letter from Boston's police Commissioner Michael Cox and Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge said. The letter claims many drivers are operating unregistered vehicles."We have witnessed widespread and ongoing incidents of running red lights, driving on city sidewalks, driving the wrong way down one-way streets, driving at speeds in excess of posted limits and collisions," the letter read. "This type of operation puts the delivery driver, and any pedestrian or driver of a motor vehicle who encounters them, in imminent danger.""The consistent failure of those operating on your behalf to abide by rules and regulations indicates a concerning lack of oversight and care in regard to public safety," the letter said. DoorDash, one of the delivery companies that received the letter from city officials, said it has been "working closely" with Boston city officials and community stakeholders."The overwhelming majority of Dashers do the right thing and like all drivers must follow the rules of the road," the written statement said. "If they don’t, then they face consequences — just like anyone else."DoorDash says it sends regular reminders of regulations to Dashers picking up in the busiest areas of the Back Bay and "are eager to help find solutions so everyone in Boston can continue to safely share the city’s streets."Grubhub said to deliver with them, their delivery partners agree to obey all local traffic laws. "While enforcement of the law is best handled by the police, we take safety seriously, and any reports of unsafe driving will result in removal from our platform," a written statement from the company said. The city wants to know how the food delivery companies verify drivers are licensed, utilizing properly registered vehicles and have a safe driving history. It also wants the companies to share how they track reported safety violations and the steps they take to address driver behavior when issues are identified. The city is requesting a written response to questions posed to them by Friday. The letter said Boston police are increasing their enforcement actions to address the behavior connected to deliver services.
BOSTON —
Boston city officials sent a written letter to the top executives of DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber, warning them about an "alarming increase in unlawful and dangerous operation" of delivery vehicles.
"These dangerous behaviors cannot continue," the letter from Boston's police Commissioner Michael Cox and Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge said.
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The letter claims many drivers are operating unregistered vehicles.
"We have witnessed widespread and ongoing incidents of running red lights, driving on city sidewalks, driving the wrong way down one-way streets, driving at speeds in excess of posted limits and collisions," the letter read. "This type of operation puts the delivery driver, and any pedestrian or driver of a motor vehicle who encounters them, in imminent danger."
"The consistent failure of those operating on your behalf to abide by rules and regulations indicates a concerning lack of oversight and care in regard to public safety," the letter said.
DoorDash, one of the delivery companies that received the letter from city officials, said it has been "working closely" with Boston city officials and community stakeholders.
"The overwhelming majority of Dashers do the right thing and like all drivers must follow the rules of the road," the written statement said. "If they don’t, then they face consequences — just like anyone else."
DoorDash says it sends regular reminders of regulations to Dashers picking up in the busiest areas of the Back Bay and "are eager to help find solutions so everyone in Boston can continue to safely share the city’s streets."
Grubhub said to deliver with them, their delivery partners agree to obey all local traffic laws. "While enforcement of the law is best handled by the police, we take safety seriously, and any reports of unsafe driving will result in removal from our platform," a written statement from the company said.
The city wants to know how the food delivery companies verify drivers are licensed, utilizing properly registered vehicles and have a safe driving history. It also wants the companies to share how they track reported safety violations and the steps they take to address driver behavior when issues are identified.
The city is requesting a written response to questions posed to them by Friday.
The letter said Boston police are increasing their enforcement actions to address the behavior connected to deliver services.
