DoorDash Enhances Driver ID Verification in Response to Traffic Safety Concerns

DoorDash is taking significant steps to enhance driver identity verification in response to increasing traffic safety concerns. The food delivery platform has announced that it will require its drivers to verify their identities more frequently, aiming to crack down on unauthorized account sharing.

This move comes amid mounting pressure on DoorDash to ensure that its drivers are operating within legal parameters. Over the summer, the company committed to improving its identification and removal processes for dangerous drivers after receiving numerous complaints about reckless driving in various cities.

Officials in major cities like Boston and New York have reported instances where individuals with multiple traffic violations continued making deliveries using accounts registered under different names. In response, DoorDash has implemented a requirement for certain drivers to complete real-time identity checks immediately after finishing a delivery. Previously, such re-verifications were only conducted occasionally before or after shifts.

The new identity verification system has already launched in cities including Los Angeles, Denver, and Seattle, with plans for broader implementation next year.

Additionally, DoorDash has developed an advanced machine learning system designed to identify potential unauthorized account access by detecting login anomalies and suspicious activity. If any irregularities are found, drivers will be required to re-verify their identity before they can continue making deliveries.

To work with DoorDash, U.S. drivers must verify their identities using a government-issued ID such as a driver’s license and upload a matching selfie. Background checks are also mandatory, requiring the submission of a Social Security number.

The company discovered that some drivers were sidestepping these requirements by sharing accounts with authorized users; in some cases, unauthorized drivers were paying those who were authorized for access.

Moreover, federal lawmakers have called on DoorDash and other delivery services to strengthen measures against allowing individuals residing illegally in the U.S. from accessing their platforms. A group of Republican senators sent letters urging delivery companies to address issues related to account sharing effectively.

“These illegal immigrants are delivering food directly to consumers’ doors without ever having undergone a background check and often without even using their real names,” the letter stated. It also highlighted that working illegally poses risks for migrants, exposing them to potential exploitation and abuse.

While DoorDash has refrained from estimating how many drivers may be using shared accounts, it maintains that its protective measures are effective. Last year marked the beginning of monthly re-verification requests through selfies from its drivers; currently, over 150,000 drivers are asked each week to complete these checks or risk removal from the platform if they fail to comply.