Staying Safe on the Road — 15+ Must-Have Road Safety Products for Delivery Drivers

Want to make your safe driving faster and more efficient? Circuit Route Planner helps you find the fastest routes to where you need to go.

It’s not all rainbows and sunshine when it comes to being a delivery driver.

Being a delivery driver can be a risky job.

A USA Today report shows that you’re more likely to die on the job as a delivery driver (24.7 annual deaths per 100K workers) than as a police officer (14.6 annual deaths per 100K workers).

Yikes.

Not exactly a comforting thought.

The good news is there are steps you can take to help reduce these risks and stay safe on the road.

Whether you’re driving a van, truck, or car, you need to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions to protect yourself and your vehicle.

Of course, you’ll want to remember those driver safety tips you learned in driving school — like wearing a seatbelt, observing traffic signs, sticking to the speed limit, doing your best defensive driving, and staying aware of your surroundings.

But there are also some helpful and important safety products that you can use to make your delivery job safer.

In this post, I share the top must-have safety products for delivery drivers.

Top dangers of delivery drivers

As much as we want to get straight into the products, it’s important to know the risks of being a delivery driver. 

Knowledge is power, as they say.

• Car accidents: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that an estimated 42,915 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021, a 10.5% increase from 2020. And since 2012, the number of crashes involving delivery vehicles has increased exponentially.
  For example, crashes involving UPS vehicles increased by 38%, DHL Express vehicles increased by 100%, and FedEx vehicle accidents increased by an astonishing 254%! Last-mile delivery drivers are no exception since most car accidents occur near the driver’s home — not just on long-distance trips.
• Carjacking: As food delivery drivers hop out of their vehicles to make a quick delivery and leave the car running, thieves are ready to seize the opportunity. Sadly, in March 2021, Mohammad Anwar, a 66-year-old Uber Eats driver, was carjacked and killed by two teens in Washington, D.C.
• Robbery: In the same hour, two different pizza delivery drivers for two different restaurants were robbed at gunpoint in Georgia. Quora and Reddit are overflowing with stories.
• Injuries from falls: Every day, package delivery drivers are expected to climb on and off their vehicles multiple times to make deliveries. This puts them at risk for slips, trips, and falls.
• Back injuries, muscle pulls, and other occupational injuries: Delivery drivers and couriers are constantly lifting, carrying, and loading packages. This puts them at risk for back injuries, hernias, and other occupational injuries. And if the driver is an independent contractor, they won’t have health insurance offered through their job.
• Dog bites: As crazy as it sounds, more than 5,800 postal workers were attacked by dogs in 2020 while delivering the mail.

Being aware of the risks is the first step in protecting yourself.

Now, let’s look at some safety equipment and products for delivery drivers that can help you stay safe on the job.

10+ must-have safety products for delivery drivers

If you want to make your job as a delivery driver safer, here’s a list of products and safety equipment you should consider.

Delivery driver visibility vest 

They aren’t cute.

But delivery driving isn’t a fashion show.

While on the job, it’s important to be easily visible to other drivers and pedestrians. 

A visibility vest can help increase your visibility and keep you safe while driving or walking.

If you’re driving a large delivery vehicle or truck, a visibility vest might even be required.

Check out our post for a story from a courier driver expert, sharing his experience with being turned away from a job for not having the right visibility vest.

There are a variety of vests to choose from, so it’s important to find one that’s comfortable and fits well.

Some vests also have reflective strips, which can help make you even more visible in low-light conditions.

Check out vests on Amazon.

Flashlight

You’ve got a lot of skills.

But you probably don’t have night vision.

That’s why one of the most important pieces of safety equipment is a flashlight.

And no, I’m not talking about your phone’s flashlight feature. Sure, that works in a pinch, but a separate flashlight is better for a few reasons.

First, a cellphone flashlight is about 30 to 100 lumens, but it takes about 200 lumens to walk at night without streetlights.

And a phone’s flashlight uses a lot of power and can eat up your battery and heat up your phone.

A separate flashlight can even act as a weapon.

Just make sure to get a flashlight that’s bright enough to light your way and has long-lasting batteries.

It’s a good idea to bring backup batteries just in case too.

Or consider a wind-up battery, so you never have to worry about switching out batteries.

Check out our list of the best flashlights for delivery drivers.

Gloves

As a delivery driver, your hands are tools of the trade.

And you gotta protect the equipment.

If you’re a courier familiar with a cardboard box or two, you probably know the sting of a cardboard cut.

Hot damn.

Ow.

That’s why gloves are an essential piece of safety equipment for delivery drivers.

Not only do they protect your hands from the elements, but they also help you grip packages and prevent injuries from falls.

When choosing gloves, look for a pair that’s comfortable, durable, and has a good grip.

Check out gloves on Amazon.

Non-slip shoes

You’ve probably heard the saying, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.”

Well, if you want to make a delivery driver laugh, tell him you’re going to make a delivery in flip-flops.

Seriously, though, non-slip shoes are a must for delivery drivers.

They help you stay safe while walking and climbing on and off your vehicle, and they also provide a good grip when carrying packages.

When choosing non-slip shoes, look for a pair that’s comfortable and has a good tread for slippery surfaces, inclement weather, stairs, and icy or uneven walkways.

Learn how to choose the best shoes for delivery drivers.

First-aid kit 

You’re not a doctor. But you should know about basic first aid.

A first-aid kit is a must-have for delivery driver safety.

It's always better to be safe than sorry, and you never know when you might need it.

A basic first-aid kit should include Band-Aids, gauze, antiseptic wipes, and pain relievers.

You can also consider taking some safety training on how to administer first aid, so you’re prepared in case of an emergency.

Check out first-aid kits on Amazon.

Dash cam

As a delivery driver, you’re constantly on the go.

And while you might not be able to control other drivers, you can protect yourself with a dash cam.

A dash cam can help you stay safe on the job by recording everything that happens while you’re driving.

If you’re involved in an accident, the footage from your dash cam can be used as evidence to support your claim.

A dash cam can also be a tool for personal safety.

They can help deter criminals, as they’ll know their actions are being recorded.

When choosing a dash cam, look for one that’s easy to use and has a wide field of view.

Check out dash cams on Amazon.

Cellphone charger and accessories

Let’s be honest.

We all live and die by our phones.

And as a delivery driver, your phone is your lifeline.

You probably need your cellphone to find your next delivery location, confirm a pickup or delivery, get updates from the delivery service you work for, take important calls, stay up to date on road conditions — and even listen to your favorite music.

That’s why it’s important to have a cellphone charger and some other essential accessories with you at all times.

A car charger is a must-have, as it’ll keep your phone charged while you’re on the road.

A hands-free device is also a good idea — you can still make calls and stay focused on the road.

You might also want to think about a portable charger, as it can come in handy if your phone runs out of battery and you’re away from your vehicle charger.

Check out cellphone chargers on Amazon.

A reliable navigation app

No one knows the streets like a delivery driver.

But even the best of us can get lost sometimes.

Road conditions like traffic and road closures are always changing.

And doing the mental chart-plotting like an ancient map-maker isn’t the most effective way to get through your delivery route.

That’s why a reliable route planner app is a must-have for delivery drivers.

Circuit Route Planner works with your preferred GPS like Google Maps or Waze to create the most efficient delivery route based on live traffic and road conditions.

It also allows you to quickly and easily manage stops, add new stops, and re-optimize at any time — and it even has a hands-free voice navigation feature, so you can keep your eyes on the road.

Emergency reflective road signs

You never know when you might need to make an emergency stop.

And when you do, you want to make sure that you’re visible to other drivers.

Emergency reflective road signs are a must-have for delivery drivers.

They help you stay safe on the job by making you more visible to other drivers, day or night.

When choosing emergency reflective road signs, look for ones that are easy to set up and take down, easy to store, and signage that is visible from a distance.

Check out emergency road signs on Amazon. 

“Frequent stops” bumper stickers

You know what they say.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

And when it comes to delivery driver safety, that couldn’t be more true.

“Frequent stops” bumper stickers are a great way to let other drivers know that you’ll be stopping often.

They help you stay safe on the job by making you more visible to other drivers.

When choosing “frequent stops” bumper stickers, look for ones that are made of durable material and are easy to see.

Check out bumper stickers on Amazon.

Lifting straps

As a delivery driver, you’re constantly lifting and carrying heavy boxes.

And while you might be strong enough to lift those boxes on your own, it’s not always the safest option.

Lifting straps help you stay safe on the job by distributing the weight of the box evenly across your body.

They also help you avoid injuries by preventing you from lifting boxes that are too heavy for you.

Make your load a little lighter and your job a little safer with lifting straps.

Check out lifting straps on Amazon. 

Portable tool kit

You never know when you might need a screwdriver, a wrench, or a hammer.

And while you might not need them often, it’s always nice to have a portable tool kit on hand just in case.

You can buy a multi-tool with tools for cutting, screwing, and hammering.

Or you can buy a separate tool for each task.

You can add this to your roadside kit.

If you don’t already have a roadside kit for your delivery vehicle, you’ll want to put one of those together as well. It’s a good idea to have a jumper cable, socket driver and socket set, and tire gauge to keep your vehicle in good operating condition.

Consider adding an extra pair of window wipers to your stash, too. A good set of wipers is essential for delivery driver safety. Without them, you won’t have visibility during inclement weather like rain, sleet, or snow.

Make sure that your portable tool kit is easy to carry and includes the tools you need to get the job done.

Check out portable tool kits on Amazon.

COVID-19 safety products for delivery drivers

Because you don’t live under a rock, you probably know we’re in the middle of a pandemic.

Thanks, coronavirus.

Despite an unprecedented situation, delivery drivers have been expected to continue on like normal — actually WAY more than normal. 

As essential front-line workers and delivery drivers are now more important than ever.

And as a delivery driver, you’re at a higher risk of coronavirus exposure.

That’s why it’s important to take extra precautions to protect yourself and others.

Here are some COVID-19 safety products that every delivery driver should have.

(When you’re done, check out our post on five tips for health and safety during COVID-19.) 

A face mask

As a delivery driver, you’re constantly coming into contact with different people and surfaces.

Social distancing isn’t always possible when you need to get signatures, or a customer needs to ask you a question.

That’s why it’s important to wear a face mask when you’re on the job.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends masks for the general public to help protect against COVID-19.

They’ve become an essential piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) for many in the last three years.

The CDC’s new standards state that well-fitting N95, KN95, and KF94 masks are the most effective, and fabric masks are the least effective at stopping the virus from spreading.

However, any mask is better than no mask.

Reusable face masks are a popular option because you can wash them and reuse them.

Check out masks on Amazon.

Sanitizing wipes and portable sanitizer

As a delivery driver, you probably encounter some gross stuff.

Leaky food or packages.

Spilled drinks.

Sticky surfaces.

Plus, you never know when you might need to wipe down a package, a piece of equipment, or a surface in your car to make your work environment a little less offensive.

And while you can’t always wash your hands, you can use sanitizing wipes or hand sanitizer to kill germs and bacteria.

Sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer are great for delivery drivers because they’re easy to use and easy to carry.

When choosing sanitizing wipes, look for ones that are alcohol-free and safe for use on different surfaces.

And when choosing hand sanitizer, look for one that’s at least 60% alcohol.

Check out sanitizers on Amazon. 

Gloves

While you might not need to wear gloves all the time, they’re great for when you need to handle a package that might be contaminated.

If you’re transporting medical equipment, medications, or coolers, these may already be standard safety equipment in your line of work.

Gloves help you avoid contact with germs and bacteria.

They’re also handy for cleaning up messes. Rideshare drivers for Uber, for instance, may want a pair just in case they have to deal with some late-night drunks vomiting in the backseat.

When choosing gloves, look for ones that are comfortable and fit well.

Check out gloves on Amazon.

Disinfectant cleaning products

You might already use some disinfectant cleaning products at home.

But as a delivery driver, you need to take extra precautions to protect yourself and others.

Disinfectant cleaning products can help you kill germs and bacteria on surfaces.

They also come in handy for food spills, leaky packages, and whatever other grossness you might encounter on the job.

When choosing a disinfectant, look for one that’s EPA-registered and effective against a broad range of germs and bacteria.

And make sure you follow the instructions on the label for proper use.

Check out disinfectant cleaning products on Amazon.

How Circuit Route Planner can help you deliver faster and easier

Occupational safety and safety topics aren’t always easy to talk about.

It’s not always pleasant imagining all of the ways you could get injured on the job.

But as a delivery driver, it’s important to be aware of the risks and take the right steps to protect yourself.

The right safety products can help you protect yourself and others.

One of the most effective ways to avoid an accident is to drive less.

Don’t laugh.

We’re serious — and we have a strategy to help you do just that.

Driving less means you’re less likely to have an accident.

And Circuit can help.

Circuit Route Planner uses route optimization magic to help you deliver faster and easier.

Stop sitting in traffic and find addresses fast, so you can drive less, do more, and finish work early every day.

Enjoy adding unlimited stops quickly so you can confidently plan your routes. 

Hands-free voice entry lets you add multiple stops with ease without compromising your safety.

Plus, Circuit integrates with your preferred GPS like Google Maps for turn-by-turn directions and traffic updates, so you can navigate smoothly.