Head of Household Delivering Chicken Fatally Hit by Wrong-Way Mercedes... Cheong Petition Surpasses 300,000
Traffic Accident Deaths Down 10% in First Half of This Year... Motorcycle Deaths Increase
On the afternoon of the 2nd, delivery riders are waiting for the signal near Gwanghwamun Station in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Recently, as delivery services have increased due to COVID-19, accidents involving two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles have also risen. The problem is that, unlike other types of vehicles, motorcycle riders' bodies are exposed to the outside, resulting in a higher fatality rate. Some have pointed out that these accidents occurred because delivery workers rushed to meet consumers' demands for "ppal-gi-ppal-gi" (quick service) and speedy deliveries.
◆ A delivery worker in his 50s dies after being hit by a drunk driver driving in reverse while delivering late-night food
On the 10th, a petition titled "I am the daughter of a man in his 50s who suffered a tragedy due to drunk driving in reverse at Eulwangri around 1 a.m. on September 9" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. As of 11:30 a.m. on the 11th, the petition had received over 312,300 signatures.
The incident refers to a crash that occurred around 12:55 a.m. on the 9th on a two-lane one-way road in Eulwang-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon, where Mr. A, driving his Mercedes-Benz under the influence of alcohol, crossed the center line and collided head-on with a motorcycle coming from the opposite direction.
As a result of the accident, Mr. B, a man in his 50s who was delivering chicken, died. At the time, Mr. A's blood alcohol concentration was reported to be 0.08%, exceeding the license cancellation level. The police decided to apply the Yoon Chang-ho Act to Mr. A, who caused the accident.
On the 10th, a petition titled "I am the daughter of a man in his 50s who tragically died due to drunk driving and wrong-way driving in Eulwangri around 1 a.m. on September 9" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. Photo by Blue House National Petition Board capture.
The petitioner, who identified herself as Mr. B's daughter, said, "Early that morning, my father went out to deliver chicken as usual. That day, there were many orders from the evening, so he didn't even eat dinner and said it was his last delivery before leaving," and added, "After a long time had passed without his return, my mother closed the store and went out to look for him."
She continued, "At that moment, an ambulance (119) passed by, and with a sinking feeling, we found our motorcycle abandoned about 2 km from our store," and she conveyed that her father had ultimately passed away.
In particular, the petitioner raised her voice, saying, "According to eyewitness accounts, the body was lying on the center line, but the perpetrator, while intoxicated, sought a lawyer before the ambulance, and the passenger's pants belt was undone."
Finally, she said, "My father delivered because it was his own store and he felt responsible," adding, "He said that if he hired a delivery part-timer, they wouldn't deliver politely, so he had to do it himself. Since starting the store, he personally handled deliveries. He never once failed to work hard in his life," urging the police to conduct a strict investigation.
◆ Surge in two-wheeled vehicle accidents amid soaring delivery demand
Recently, with the spread of COVID-19, delivery services have increased, and the number of fatalities from two-wheeled vehicle accidents, such as motorcycles, has also risen. It is pointed out that delivery motorcycle drivers, trying to handle the increased volume of orders, have been driving recklessly by speeding and violating traffic signals, leading to accidents.
A netizen who identified themselves as a delivery worker said on an online community, "I receive many calls urging me to hurry from customers, and being distracted by that, I can't always drive safely," adding, "Also, to earn income, I have to make many deliveries, so sometimes I inevitably speed."
On the afternoon of the 2nd, a delivery rider is seen walking with a motorcycle near the crosswalk by Gwanghwamun Station in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The problem is that motorcycles, unlike cars, are prone to tipping over or flipping, and their riders' bodies are exposed, making the risk of serious injury high in the event of an accident.
On the 8th, a delivery motorcycle collided with a van in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, resulting in the death of a delivery worker in his 20s. Also, on the 28th of last month, on a four-lane one-way road in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, a delivery worker in his 20s died after his motorcycle collided head-on with a van.
The number of fatalities from two-wheeled vehicle accidents is increasing. According to the National Police Agency and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, traffic accident fatalities in the first half of this year decreased by 10.0% compared to the same period last year (1,621 deaths), while fatalities from two-wheeled vehicle accidents such as motorcycles increased by 13.7% compared to last year (233 deaths). This is interpreted as an effect of increased delivery orders due to COVID-19.
Notice written by the owner of a Sundaeguk restaurant to delivery drivers. Photo by Online Community
◆ Calls to refrain from pressuring delivery workers with comments like "Delivery is late"
Some have pointed out that delivery workers' accidents are related to customers' "delivery pressure." On delivery apps and elsewhere, reviews such as "The delivery is late" or "It takes over an hour" are frequently seen. Especially, such criticisms can lead to low ratings for restaurants, increasing the burden on delivery workers.
Last year, a boss of a sundae soup restaurant caused controversy by issuing delivery guidelines requiring delivery drivers to complete deliveries within 20 minutes.
At that time, an online community post titled "Notice from the sundae soup restaurant boss to delivery drivers" was posted. According to the notice, the boss informed delivery drivers of several compliance requirements: to arrive at the franchise within 10 minutes of receiving the delivery order, pick up the food, and deliver it to the customer within 10 minutes.
The boss said, "On rainy or snowy days, add 5 minutes and complete the delivery within 25 minutes," adding, "It would be better if you can do it faster." He also emphasized speedy delivery, saying, "If you can't complete the delivery within 20 minutes, don't do delivery work," and "Delivery must be done quickly at all times."
At the time, some netizens criticized these guidelines as a form of "gapjil" (abuse of power). They argued that to complete deliveries within about 20 minutes, drivers would have to violate traffic signals and speed.
One netizen said, "Ten minutes means risking your life by speeding," and criticized, "The sundae soup restaurant can only operate because there are delivery workers, so how can you abuse them?"
Meanwhile, experts emphasized the importance of protective gear. Min Kyung-jin, head of the Traffic Accident Comprehensive Analysis Center, said, "With the spread of delivery culture, the risk of related two-wheeled vehicle accidents has also increased," and urged, "Two-wheeled vehicle riders should always wear protective gear and comply with traffic laws, as accidents can lead to serious injuries."
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