Cities and towns are slowing their roll on new drive-thrus

Long lines of cars waiting to place and pick up orders at restaurant drive-thrus are spilling into roadways, causing congestion and safety issues. That has led towns and cities nationwide to consider banning new drive-thrus.

Drive Thru Bans Are Going Into Effect

CNN is reporting that America has become a land of drive thru convenience, with an estimated 200,000+ drive thru food services spread across the United States. While McDonalds reports that drive thru payment make up at least 70& of their sales.

With the surge in popularity of this method, the added convenience is now adding more problems such as:

• Traffic congestion
• Car accidents
• Accidents with pedestrians and cyclists
• Prevention of visiting neighboring business establishments

And we’d like to add a large amount of stress, it’s safe to assume.

As a result, Atlanta lawmakers are currently voting on banning drive thru fast food in their already crowded Beltline area. NPR has also reported that over the years, the following states have already passed the necessary legislation to ban drive thrus in specific areas:

• Missouri
• New York
• Southern California
• Arizona
• New Jersey
• Minneapolis

The Smithsonian states that the first drive thru service appears in the 1950s through a Jack in the Box that let customers place orders through the head of a clown. This novelty became a hit with kids and families.

Other food services only expanded from there and added ways to order while in your car while being able to also eat in your car.

Major chain Starbucks has expressed how they will be banking on the AI trend to help make orders fast, more efficient, and less prone to errors in order to benefit their communities.

The main takeaway from all this is that for any future drive thru fast food services to be considered, there needs to be careful planning on the placement and traffic flow of the location to prevent traffic and various types of accidents.