The tragic case of the 42yo motorist who was tied up and clobbered to death near Kajang recently by a mob, said to be a gang of food delivery riders, has certainly sparked an intense debate among netizens; in fact, it has even prompted some disgruntled ones to call for a boycott of food delivery service providers - in order to reduce the menace of their law-breaking riders! (Read here)
Apparently, the incident was triggered by an accident where a motorcyclist was knocked down by the driver. Clearly what has spooked many is that - couldn’t the same fate also befall other innocent road users?
Incidentally, the tragedy has also reignited another major concern for many, who for so long, have been traumatised by the sight of food delivery riders behaving recklessly on the roads endangering themselves as well as others. But why do these people - at times so helpful and considerate - behave like demons once they are on their bikes chasing orders?
In fact, back in 2021, during the pandemic the Sun daily had highlighted that even though food delivery riders provide an essential service to the community, yet, a large proportion of them are also a real menace on the road. It further stated that a study conducted by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) had revealed that a staggering 70% of them disobey traffic rules when they are on a delivery run.
Apparently, according to Miros, their litany of offences include stopping in the yellow box which accounted for 57% of all violations, followed by running red lights (16%), using the phone while riding (15%), riding against traffic (7%) and making illegal U-turns (5%). Some of these of course have proven to be fatal.
Besides, the report also stated that back then, Miros was in talks with representatives of popular service providers such as Grab and Foodpanda to address the problem. But hasn't matters become worse? So who is to be blamed?
Of course, it is understandable that food delivery riders are required to be fast and efficient in doing their job as they are usually paid a basic hourly rate, which they supplement with a commission for every delivery made; in other words, more trips, more money! (Of course, correspondingly their employer will also rake in more profit!)
Clearly then, it is the need to chalk up more deliveries that usually prompts some of the riders to disobey traffic rules. But shouldn’t the onus be on the food delivery companies also to ensure that their “employees” adhere strictly to traffic regulations?
Moreover, if they are truly ethical and responsible employers, shouldn't they have some strict internal mechanism to deter their delivery riders from breaking traffic rules with an option to dock their riders’ commission for traffic offences - or if there is any report received from the public of their reckless behaviour?
Of course, there should also be more stringent enforcement of road regulations on the part of the authorities. This may involve more closer monitoring of traffic cameras to nab delivery riders running red lights or making illegal U-turns. And also what about parking wherever they like - taking up the already sparse parking lots - and riding against traffic as a shortcut?
The truth is, although in their fast-paced gig job, time literally translates to money, ultimately the delivery riders themselves have to be more responsible for their own actions.
Meanwhile, last year, the Edge website reported that Malaysia’s Minister of Transport Anthony Loke had disclosed a shocking set of statistics regarding food delivery riders in the country. Between 2018 and May 2022, 112 food delivery riders had lost their lives on Malaysian roads, with an additional 82 sustaining serious injuries and 1,082 suffering minor injuries. This actually implied that there was at least one food delivery rider dying nearly every week on Malaysian roads. Scary? Imagine, what would the figures be in 2024?
The report also underscored the pressing need for greater transparency and accountability within the food delivery industry, particularly in the context of road safety.
It added that the situation is further complicated by the lack of information from the food delivery platform companies themselves. All of which may prompt the public to ask: are these companies even bothered at all about the safety of their riders and other road users? Is it all about market share and profit - and nothing else?
Interestingly, it was reported by Bangkok Post last year that a local council in the city there had made delivery firms sign an agreement to ensure that their riders obeyed traffic rules for the safety of pedestrians. Couldn’t something similar to that be introduced in our country too for the benefit of the riders as well as other road users?
Or do the authorities feel that they have to kowtow to the food delivery companies as they are billion ringgit businesses which bring in precious revenue to the government coffers?
In fact, earlier the Star had also pinpointed that impatient, demanding customers and the “lack of understanding by their employers” were the top reasons cited by food delivery riders who often broke traffic regulations; this, of course, was as good as hearing from the horse’s mouth but can all that justify their reckless behaviour?
So, taking into account the escalating public pressure on the dangerous antics of p-hailing riders, which has already made many road users develop a “phobia” for driving, shouldn't the Transport Ministry take a cue from it and act decisively - before another unfortunate incident, like the most recent “Kajang mob” killing, happens to other helpless, law-abiding road users?
Primary Information Source: Focus Malaysia
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