Proposal:Drive-Through Elements

Drive-Through Elements
Proposal status:	Proposed (under way)
Proposed by:	GA Kevin
Rendered as:	See rendering section
Draft started:	2025-04-09
RFC start:	2025-04-09

Proposal

This proposal aims to clarify and formalize some elements of the drive-through used in fast food, banks, pharmacies, liquor stores, and elsewhere to execute sales without the customer leaving their vehicle.

Tags: board_type=menu, man_made=speaker_box, speaker_box=yes, window=drive_through. parking_space=pickup.

Rationale

Drive-throughs are very common in parts of the world and nearly all have common elements: A space where an order is taken, an information board with items to purchase, and a speaker box used to communicate with a worker inside; and a space where pickup or payment happens through a window or via employees delivering your item to your vehicle.

This should not be confused with a drive-in. In a drive-through, you do not place your vehicle in "park" and are expected to vacate the lane when the transaction is complete. A drive-in, however, you are expected to park and consume what you purchased before vacating the space.

Tagging

Common Drive-Through Elements

Image	Tag	TagInfo	Description & How to Map
	tourism=information information=board board_type=menu		A board, usually backlit or electronic, used to convey merchandise information such as availability, prices, and advertising. The node should be placed where the menu is, ideally with a direction=* for direction(s) in which the menu(s) face(s).
	maxheight=*		A maximum clearance indicator for future elements of the drive through. If present, mark the drive-through way as the maximum clearance.
	man_made=speaker_box		The 2-way communication box, sometimes freestanding, sometimes integrated into the menu board. If freestanding, place the node where the speaker box is with direction=* of the speaker where possible. If integrated into the menu board, use speaker_box=yes on the menu board node.
	man_made=canopy		The canopy covering the ordering or receiving areas. Varies in size from very small to very large. If present, mark the canopy as an area. If a canopy is particularly large or attached to the building, consider using building=roof if appropriate.
	window=drive_through		The window(s) where the customer transacts or receives their order. If multiple are present, consider how they are labelled to use a key such as ref=*. Window nodes should be placed on the building way where they are located and may include other values from window=*, but doesn't need to.
	amenity=parking_space parking_space=pickup		If a drive-through is overcrowded or an order is taking longer than expected, designated parking spaces may be assigned to a customer to wait in to retrieve their order. Tag these as you would any parking space, adding parking_space=pickup and it's ref=*.

Rendering

• Menu board should retain the information=board iconography.
• Speaker box should use something like this icon.
• Pickup parking spaces should use something like this icon with their ref number rendered.

Features/Pages affected

If approved, the drive-through, information board, window, parking spaces, and related pages should be updated to reflect this proposal.

External discussions

• OpenStreetMap Community Forum

Comments

Please comment on the discussion page.