"On Reddit, one user who identified as a general manager of an unspecified drive-thru restaurant explained the policy, stating that many drive-thrus have a weight sensor at the order point that customers without a car would not set off, that the restaurant may be held liable for any pedestrians who get struck by a car while attempting to order, and that allowing people to walk up to the service window raised the risk of robbery."
"It's unclear if this is a universal policy at all McDonald's drive-thru restaurants, or if it depends which country you are in. The official UK website for McDonald's, for example, plainly states that "for safety reasons we cannot serve pedestrians and vehicles at the same outdoor service point.""
"The question of whether pedestrians should be served at McDonald's drive-thrus has become so vexed, it has even required a court case to settle the matter. In 2016, the fast food chain faced a federal lawsuit from Scott Magee, a blind person who claimed that he had been laughed at an turned away from a McDonald's drive-thru in New Orleans, Louisiana."
McDonald’s drive-thru service can be limited to customers arriving by car, even when pedestrians are nearby and want to order and pick up food. Some drive-thru locations use a weight sensor at the order point that may not register pedestrians. Operators may refuse pedestrian service to reduce safety risks, including liability if a pedestrian is struck by a car while attempting to order. Another stated concern is increased robbery risk when people approach the service window on foot. Policies can vary by location and country. McDonald’s UK states that pedestrians and vehicles cannot be served at the same outdoor service point for safety reasons. A legal case in 2016 involved a blind customer who alleged discrimination after being turned away from a drive-thru in New Orleans.
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