Food delivery services caught in rider safety stoush

Food delivery services such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Menulog have be put under the microscope following a spate of recent fatalities and injuries involving scooter, motorcycle and bicycle delivery riders.

The New South Wales government set up a taskforce in November 2020 after four Sydney-based delivery riders died in the space of three months.

Led by SafeWork NSW and Transport for NSW, the taskforce will aim to asses safety measures implemented by the food delivery operators. Of particular concern, is the employment status of the delivery riders, who are often hired as contractors.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has not only led to a boom in motorcycle sales and learner permits, it has also led to more activity on food delivery apps as a result of lockdown. This has likely translated to more delivery riders on the road, making the matter of safety more pressing.

But leading rider training organisation, Stay Upright, is worried that the current NSW parliamentary enquiry is missing the point. It believes that, while making riders employees will help with job security, it will do little to protect the riders on the road.

Instead, Stay Upright has called for either food delivery operators, or the government, to implement minimum safety standards for riders and safety equipment.

Most of the major food delivery services admit more needs to be done to protect its riders, but there is currently little regulation outside of the standard road laws.

According to Stay Upright Regional Manager Glen McGrath, the issue comes down to who is responsible for the riders’ conduct. “We know that, in NSW, and in each of the states, the licencing and training is very good,” he told bikesales. “So no matter how they’re employed, or who they are employed by, the individual who gets on a scooter and rides away needs to make a decision about how they do it safely.”

Anecdotal evidence suggests that many delivery riders are flouting road rules and safety advice, enhancing their chances of a serious accident. McGrath pointed out one instance he witnessed in Sydney: “I saw one young bloke riding a scooter in a delivery capacity, wearing a t-shirt, shorts and thongs, with one hand on the throttle and one hand on his phone looking at directions.”

Stay Upright’s belief is that better safety standards and awareness of delivery riders’ actions is key to creating a safer working environment and reducing the rate of injuries and fatalities.

“Personally, I’d like to see the riders in high-vis vests, and I’d like them to make sure riders are riding safely,” said McGrath. “If the delivery companies detect that any of their riders are not riding safely, then we’d absolutely be happy to engage with them in regards to some follow up training to ensure their skills are as honed as they could be.”

Some of the companies have already promised new initiatives that will improve rider safety, including high-vis, less app distraction, safety checklists, and helmet detection, but Stay Upright has indicated it would like to see a more uniformed approach to delivery rider safety.

The NSW taskforce is ongoing and it will provide regular reports over the next 12 months. For more information on the taskforce visit www.safework.nsw.gov.au or head to www.stayupright.com.au for rider training information.