When junior Meghan McLendon took a job as a delivery girl at Pizza Hut, she didn’t think there was a lot to worry about.

But according to recent statistics, delivery driver is one of the most dangerous occupations a person in the United States can have.

“For the most part, I do feel safe when I make deliveries,” she said. “I just try to keep the mindset that people aren’t always out to get me. However, I do take extra precautions like locking my doors as soon as I get into my car and keeping mace and a stun gun in my cup holder.”

According to a 2010 study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, driver/sales workers, which include delivery drivers, is the No. 8 most dangerous job in the U.S. — two spots above police and sheriff’s patrol officers. More than 600 delivery drivers were killed in 2010, compared to 133 police officers.

But for Columbia delivery drivers, the statistics don’t necessarily match up.

“I didn’t think I had to worry about stuff like that in Columbia,” McLendon said. “I’d expect that to be in a ‘Law and Order’ TV episode or happen in New York, but not here.”

Corey Rimmel, owner of Hot Box Cookies, said he has never had a problem with a delivery driver being robbed.

“I don’t require any special training for my employees (to help prevent a robbery),” he said. “I try to make sure my employees don’t carry too much cash on them though, so if they were robbed (the company) wouldn’t lose too much money.”

The most recent of these robberies in Columbia was in late August when, according to a previous Maneater article, a sub shop delivery driver was threatened with a baseball bat.

“I know that there were several attacks last year when some Domino’s drivers got mugged,” McLendon said. “On my first day of work, one of the drivers told me about the muggings.”

Although there have not been many reported situations concerning delivery drivers, and the chances of being robbed in Columbia are relatively low, McLendon said she has had some pretty close calls and always makes sure she is protecting herself when at work.

“The scariest moment yet was when I was in South Trailer Park and I couldn’t find the woman’s lot number,” McLendon said. “I called her three times and she didn’t answer her phone. I made a second lap (around the block) and accidentally shined my bright lights at a group of guys. It looked like I startled them.”

On her third lap around the block, the men started to walk toward her car.

“They could have been super nice people trying to help, but I wasn’t taking any chances,” she said. “That was the only delivery I didn’t make.”