DoorDash cracks down on account sharing, traffic law violations

DoorDash on Tuesday announced new steps to rein in account sharing and traffic law violations among its drivers in Boston and other U.S. cities.

Why it matters: The food delivery company's steps could address city officials' concerns about contracted drivers on scooters and motorcycles breaking traffic laws while making deliveries.

Catch up quick: Police Commissioner Michael Cox and Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge wrote in a letter to DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber last month that the city has seen delivery drivers on mopeds and motorized scooters break traffic laws.

• Those violations include driving on city sidewalks, going the wrong way on one-way streets, running red lights and speeding, the Boston Globe reported.

What they're saying: In a statement announcing the changes, DoorDash said "there is no place for reckless or dangerous behavior that puts [delivery drivers] or pedestrians in harm's way."

• But the company did not explicitly say the changes were in response to the city's letter when asked by Axios.

The big picture: DoorDash says the new protocols will be rolled out in multiple cities, starting with Boston, in hopes of helping improve road safety amid congestion.

Zoom in: DoorDash is launching a "law enforcement response team" to work with police on inquiries involving drivers.

• That includes a point of contact to respond faster to Boston police's record and information requests.
• DoorDash said drivers who break traffic laws will lose access to the app.

The intrigue: DoorDash also plans to "accelerate" account identity verification to crack down on account sharing.

• Drivers already need to confirm their identity by submitting a selfie taken in real-time, which is cross-referenced with their ID photo.
• The company said it would make drivers undergo the process if it sees "signals of account sharing" like multiple devices logging into a single account.

DoorDash is creating a campaign to share public safety rules for two-wheeled vehicles, including vehicle registration requirements.

• The campaign will also warn against breaking local laws like riding on certain sidewalks.

Go deeper: D.C. police crack down on illegal scooter activity