I also think the Diad should lock down for lunch, but it should be at the drivers discretion when to take lunch. All rtes are different. I wouldn't want to be in the "hood" delivering in the dark cause I had to take my lunch between 3rd and 6th hour. Been there done that and If I don't have to, I'm not.
Exactly why I dont take "all My lunch between the 3rd and 6th. I dont want an hour lunch anyway, who the heck wants that? I will not be in the hood after 3pm. So I take 10 minutes of it, between desired hrs, and get a cup of coffee, eat my lunch. If I dont take all my lunch, it is hours worked.
The only thing that would change is I would be in the hood after dark, and Im not going to be. No routes will be added, nothing will change and never will. Until someone gets shot or killed.
After say 5pm in the hood, you will get robbed, been there done that. If not robbed every bully dog who does not cower and love you for biscuits, will tear you apart, every door you have to knock on will introduce you to killer, they do not recognize people are out doing a job since most have never had one. And its really hard to see there since most street lights have been shot out, and they dont get fixed. So I will take my lunch when I am in a better hood, and if its zero, and snowing, I may not take the rest of it, I would rather be home. But it still conts as hours worked.
I understand what you are saying, I really do. But common sense doesnt rule, in dispatch, and I have tried it your way and all it does is put me in danger of getting fired for refusing to deliver, or puts me in bad areas after dark.
So you younguns full of bravado, go for it. I am all about eliminating risk, so I take my lunch when I can safely take it. Or I take less of it and live another day.