Concerns have been raised over on-demand delivery riders ignoring road laws and putting drivers at risk.
This is according to Hein Jonker, a motorcycle safety expert and the founder of the Motorcycle Safety Institute of South Africa, as reported by MyBroadband.
Jonker noted that delivery drivers need to change their mindsets and complete professional rider training, both on and off the motorcycle.
“The concern as an everyday road user is the disregard by some of these riders for road rules and their lack of respect towards other road users,” said Jonker, speaking to MyBroadband.
“My biggest concerns as a professional about how some of them ride is their ignorance of risks and the lack of foresight of the result. When we ride without conviction, the outcome can be catastrophic.”
He also noted that this disregard for laws not only puts the rider at risk but also endangers others using the road.
The Motorcycle Safety Institute has reportedly seen some encouraging efforts from delivery groups to address this issue by enrolling riders in training programmes.
However, to achieve real, long-term change, delivery groups must consistently enforce driver safety and risk avoidance through their mobile apps and messaging platforms.
Jonker clarified to MyBroadband that this change is dependent on the riders themselves and their willingness to change their bad habits.
“Real change in rider behaviour comes from within — the will to change the way they think so they can change the way they ride,” he told the publication.
Riding issues and slow response
Reckless rider behaviour has become a common sight on South African roads, with reports of delivery drivers travelling the wrong way down one-way roads and making dangerous lane changes at higher speeds.
As a result, Checkers Sixty60 currently has a rating of 1.53 out of five on Hellopeter, with many complaints relating to riders’ reckless driving habits.
These complaints are also applicable to the other major on-demand delivery services in the country, including PnP asap!, Woolies Dash, Spar 2U, and Mr D.
However, despite the danger these riders pose to other motorists, police response has been slow, with action only being taken to any great extent recently.
Earlier this year, in May, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers arrested 10 riders and confiscated 15 motorcycles through an operation targeting delivery bike riders in the metro.
Jonker noted to MyBroadband that authorities had been far too lenient on riders for far too long, which has only exacerbated the problem.
“The issue has already gained so much momentum that it will take months to gain control and experience change. But it’s a move in the right direction!”
Other issues surrounding the riders include sub-standard or non-regulated training, fraudulent licences, ineffective licence testing, a lack of accountability, and unsafe motorcycles.
Unsafe motorcycles are a particularly notable issue, as it has resulted in many motorcycles in poor condition being used on the roads.
He concluded that, driven by the desire to make money and support their families, many riders overlook preventive maintenance despite the long-term risks it poses to themselves and others.
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