In Italy, except for the motorway toll booths, I don't remember this type of service other than in the American most famous and iconic chain selling hamburgers (which I’m not sure if I can mention here for advertisement reasons).
I had first noticed it when I moved to Canada but this service is even more in the United States.
One of the reasons I like being here is that Americans are always very pragmatic and have a great practical sense.
I like things organized and well done and I'm lazy too so I like when things can be simplified because the time saved can always be used for doing something else.
And time is actually never enough so I hate wasting it.
A Drive-thru option can be a huge time-saving resource and many are the businesses implementing this in the States.
Here is a list.
Banks
Many agencies have the possibility of making automatic transactions from the Drive-thru ATM or at a Drive-thru window with a bank teller. All without getting out of your car.
After all, it also becomes an option that can make you feel safer, because maybe going to the ATM at night to withdraw money could be dangerous, but being able to do it in your car with the engine running…well, why not?
Drycleaners
Many of these laundry places have a side door where the clerk can go out to receive or hand out the clothes.
Especially during and following the pandemic such services have become more popular and, even though some are called Curb Pick-ups, they are very similar to Drive-thru options because basically you are not leaving your car.
Schools
Even many schools have a driveway where parents line up neatly in the car to pick up or drop off their children.
For safety reasons, when retrieving children, it is usually necessary to display a sticker or paper on the windshield with the name and class and the license plate must be registered by the school and obviously there is a member of the staff who checks every single child being picked up.
Pharmacies
The doctor sends the request for medicines or uploads the prescription online and, after a couple of hours (or a few minutes), you can go to your local drugstore drive thru to collect your drugs.
Ice cream trucks
Summer here in Texas is notoriously very hot and they told me that the line to get ice cream in your car is longer than at the counter, but at least with the air conditioning on one can wait more patiently his turn.
These are the ones that, at least where I live, are most seen.
Around the US there are also others who are a bit crazy such as in Las Vegas where there are chapels that allow you to get married without getting out of the car!
I don’t think most people are lazy, on the contrary they are always very busy and active with so many projects.
Americans work hard and many have a second job. The lucky ones have time to play sports, follow their children in various activities, participate in school or congregation activities, volunteer and some do all these things at once.
I have the perception that in this city, where we do not have any space problems, things can feel closer (close by Texan standards) if we can save as much time as possible by doing things from our car.
That way we don’t need to waste time in unnecessary lines or having to look for parking (even though there is plenty here), having children get on and off the cars with harnessing operations and I overall love this practicality.
