As a delivery or rideshare driver, you might have some safety challenges that seem to get worse every year. The numbers tell a concerning story - over 50 drivers lost their lives to assaults in 2022, while thousands more drivers generally dealt with threats or intimidation. When you drive through neighborhoods that you don't know well, especially late at night and while carrying cash or valuable items, you can become a target for crime.

Let me stress that you need to remember your safety before heading out to work in the gig economy. Drivers who take some time to learn about the possible dangers before they get started tend to stay safer. Reports show that when you use some sound safety practices, you'll probably have fewer scary situations and will feel more comfortable doing your job.

What separates a scary second from something that's quite a bit worse? In most cases, it's just a quick choice that you make in the moment. And you can only make those good quick decisions when you've thought about things ahead of time. Just remember that your preparation can give you some sound options when the seconds count.

Now that we've covered how to stay safe while you're driving, let's talk about some protective items that you can carry with you. You should think of them as your backup plan when the other safety steps aren't enough anymore.

Non-Lethal Self-Defense Tools

You might want to consider some less-lethal defense options to keep yourself safe on the road. These tools help you protect yourself without causing any long-term harm.

For instance, pepper spray works for drivers because it's pretty easy to use! When it's sprayed, it can give you a burning feeling in the eyes and skin that generally stops someone from coming closer to you.

If you drive quite a bit, you might like the pepper gel better than standard spray. The gel sticks directly to whoever you spray it on and doesn't float around in the air - a big plus when you're in your car since you won't accidentally get any of it on yourself. Drivers keep their pepper gel mounted somewhere they can reach it quickly but where passengers can't see it - it makes it easy to grab if you ever need to use it.

Late-night drivers sometimes like stun guns for their protection. As you might guess, these devices give an electric shock that temporarily stops someone from moving. Even just the buzzing sound might scare off a possible threat to you. Check the laws in your area before carrying one with you, though - they're not legal everywhere.

Your tactical flashlight can do double duty when you're making your deliveries. It helps you find house numbers in the dark and can also keep you safer. For better protection, look for one with a strobe setting that can confuse someone who might want to harm you. Those few seconds of brightness often give you enough time to get back to your car safely.

Remember, personal alarms are an option for you. In most cases, these little devices make a very loud noise when you turn them on, which tends to startle anyone nearby and can bring people out to see what's happening around you. You can attach one to your keychain so it's always with you when you step out of your vehicle.

The thing is, nobody wants their first time using pepper spray to be during a scary situation. Try practicing with whatever tool you choose before you actually need to use it. Take a few minutes to get familiar with how everything works for you. You might even want to join a self-defense class that's designed for people who work by themselves.

Having these less-lethal tools can give you some middle ground between doing nothing at all and something that could cause permanent damage. Generally, tense situations can be handled without hurting anyone involved. Just having these items nearby tends to make your drives feel much safer for you!

Situational Awareness and Common Sense

Adding a dashcam to your car can help to protect you while you're driving. These little cameras actually capture what happens inside and outside of your vehicle and can give you a record of each ride. You'll see that customers usually like to behave better when they see that they're being recorded, too.

Lock your car doors between your rides as an easy way to make yourself safer - this small habit generally prevents any strangers from hopping into your car while you're waiting for your passenger to arrive. I've heard so many stories from other drivers about random people trying to get in their vehicles. This happens especially in crowded areas. A driver friend of mine handles this situation by keeping his doors locked until he actually sees his customer walking up to the car.

You can make your job much safer when you pick up your passengers in well-lit areas. Hazards tend to happen on the dark streets or in the shadowy alleys where visibility is very poor. Try to position your car under some street lights when you're waiting for someone. Does a pickup location feel a bit sketchy? In these situations, call your customer and ask if they can meet you at a safer location just a block or two away instead.

When you pay attention to what's happening around you, it works just like any other safety device out there. Watch for who hangs around your car when you stop for a pickup location. Look for anyone who's actually acting oddly before they approach your vehicle. One time, I talked to a Chicago driver who spotted a group of men watching his car too intently during a late-night stop - his awareness helped him to stay away from a possible robbery by driving away before they could even approach.

Your rideshare app probably already has an emergency button built right into it. These helpful features can connect you with some help fast if you ever run into an incident during a ride. Some apps constantly track where you're located and send alerts to your emergency contacts if your car stays still for too long. Make these safety tools a part of your standard driving schedule, just like checking your mirrors each day.

Tell your family or your friends about your driving schedule to add another layer of safety measures. As a good practice, text someone you trust about where you'll be driving and when you expect to finish up work. Want to make this process even easier for yourself? Try one of the free apps that automatically shares your location with your trusted contacts while you drive - someone knows where to find you if you ever need any help!

Company Safety Policies

Before letting you on the road, these businesses will check your background thoroughly. They usually take a careful look at your driving history to make sure that you haven't had any serious problems. Your car generally needs to pass a safety check, too - this helps keep everyone much safer during your trips.

You'll get some helpful training as part of the job when you start. Businesses like Uber and Lyft normally show you the basics of handling tough situations more calmly. They like to teach you how to see the warning signs before any problems happen. Drivers find that this training gives them more confidence when they work in new areas or late at night.

Safety features come built into the rideshare apps you'll use every day on the job. You'll typically find an emergency button that's very easy to reach if something doesn't feel right to you. Some apps even keep an eye on your entire path and can tell if you've stopped moving for too long. These tools work well most of the time for drivers, though they might not cover every situation you'll encounter out there.

In reality, Uber's no-firearms policy often catches new drivers off guard. Many businesses don't let you carry any type of weapon while you're working for them - that means no guns, no pepper spray, and sometimes, not even stun guns. The businesses actually say that it makes everyone much safer. But you'll find that drivers don't agree with this rule at all.

What's interesting is that these locations regularly talk to each other about any tough customers they have. If someone gets kicked off Uber for threatening a driver, chances are that Lyft will know about it, too - this helps keep troublemakers away from you and other drivers on the road. Similarly, these laws apply to drivers too - break the safety guidelines, and you might lose your job permanently with them.

Cash handling has changed quite a bit over time for drivers. Your company probably pushes for all electronic payments now, which means you can carry less cash and face a lower robbery danger. Some businesses also limit where you can make your deliveries after dark or ask for some extra steps to verify orders in certain areas.

The Relevant Laws and Policies

You should get familiar with the legal aspects before you choose a defense tool. The laws for stun guns, pepper spray, and batons usually aren't the same everywhere - what you can legally carry in Texas might actually cause you issues in New York. You should take some time to look up your local laws before you buy anything for your personal defense.

The businesses that you drive for have policies that matter just as much as the local laws. Uber and Lyft don't allow any weapons for their drivers - period. Their policies might even cover some items that you wouldn't normally think of as weapons. If you break these policies, you could lose your driving privileges forever. Make sure that you read through the information in your driver agreement, though.

Let's be honest: your status as a gig worker makes situations a bit tough for rideshare drivers. As an independent contractor instead of an employee, you might run into some different laws about your self-protection - this vague area can actually affect what you're allowed to do to keep yourself safe on the job. The law is still catching up with how the gig economy actually works.

Remember that dashcams and other recording devices come with their own set of laws, too. In some states you generally need to get everyone's permission to record any audio - that means telling all your passengers they're being recorded. Video recording tends to get a pass in most public areas if your camera is visible. Just put up a small sticker mentioning the recording, and you'll stay in the clear with this.

The laws for rideshare drivers can sometimes look completely different from one city to the next. You might need some licenses in some locations, while other cities can limit where or when you can pick up your riders. These local differences can change what defense options work for you when you're driving in different neighborhoods.

Additionally, traffic problems and accidents create their own set of problems for you. Did you know that most insurance businesses manage accidents very differently when you're on the clock versus driving on your own time? Let your insurance company know that you drive for work - whether that's for deliveries or for rideshare. If you don't have the right coverage and something bad happens, you might actually end up paying for the damages out of your own pocket.

Are Rideshare Drivers at Risk?

The numbers from the past few years show us that more than 600 delivery and rideshare drivers have experienced violent crimes while working every year. That means nearly two drivers face dangerous situations daily, and these incidents happen in all kinds of areas.

Sadly, though, these dangers seem to be growing instead of shrinking. Just five years back, these attacks occurred about half as frequently as they do now. With more people ordering food and booking rides than ever before, you'll find more drivers out at all hours. Many of them need to work during late nights, when the dangers tend to increase.

Money usually makes you a target when you're driving for work. People with bad intentions know that you might carry cash or own valuable phones and cars. Sometimes, these attacks happen when you show up at a fake address in an unsafe neighborhood. Other times, someone might just choose to rob you instead of paying for their ride. Since you generally work all alone, you can become even more vulnerable.

Women drivers face even bigger safety problems. Around 40% of the women who drive for these rideshare services say they don't feel safe while working. Some of them have dealt with passengers who harass them. Others have had people who follow them after a drop-off. These scary situations can quickly change from uncomfortable to dangerous in just a few moments.

Where you drive can make your job even riskier. Some of the neighborhoods with lower incomes may have more crime. Just remember that when you drive for these services, you can't always pick where your next customer takes you - it makes it tough to stay away from potentially unsafe situations. That's why some drivers choose not to accept any jobs in certain areas once the sun goes down.

The good news is that businesses have started to add safety features to help protect you better. You'll now find panic buttons and location sharing in many of the rideshare apps. Some food delivery services don't allow cash payments in specific neighborhoods. These updates help you stay safer. But they don't get rid of the dangers. You'll still need to remember your own personal safety when you're on the job.

Let's not forget that behind these numbers are real people and their families. In reality, some families have lost someone who was just trying to earn money. If you get hurt on the job, you might run into medical bills while being unable to work. Keep in mind that the emotional scars can stay with you for years after something scary happens. It's no wonder that drivers stop working after they experience violence or hear about it happening to others around them.

Protect Yourself and Your Family

Being prepared for possible dangers helps you feel more confident as you drive through different neighborhoods and meet new passengers. Learning about your rights and what your company allows can give you some clear boundaries for safety decisions. Actually take some time to read through your company's safety guidelines - many drivers skip this part. However, these guidelines can usually improve your decisions during stressful situations.

Driving with good safety habits can give you a better experience for all your passengers, too. Drivers now look past the traditional protection options. Self-defense tools that don't feature firearms might work well for you.

Byrna offers less-lethal protection tools that you can legally use in all 50 states without needing any background checks. Our patented pull-pierce CO2 system gets you ready to protect yourself faster. We sell products like pistols, rifles, and armored backpacks. You'll find these at Byrna.com, where thousands of reviewers share why they trust our products.

Consider taking steps to make your driving job safer. The choices you make now help you feel more at ease during your future rides and deliveries. Stay alert while you work, trust how you feel about different situations, and remember that good preparation tends to be more helpful than wishing you had planned ahead!