[Delivery Regret] "The pitch-black delivery box, even more reckless driving... Need to shed anonymity"

Sejong City TF Holds Meeting with Delivery Industry
Identifies Structural Issues in Delivery Ecosystem
Proposes Measures Including Safety Training and Branding
Motorcycle Union Calls for "Resolving Manpower Shortage, Safety Training"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

"We enjoy the convenience of eating food safely and comfortably at home, but at the same time, we bear social costs such as illegal motorcycle driving and noise."

At around 10 p.m. on March 6 last year, a 25-year-old delivery motorcycle driver, Mr. A, died in a collision with a BRT bus on a road in Dodam-dong, Sejong City. The accident occurred as the motorcycle was crossing the road using a crosswalk. Following this incident, the city formed a task force (TF) team with the police, the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, and civic groups to eradicate illegal driving by delivery motorcycles. Sejong City, which served as a "policy testing ground," tried various approaches and experienced trial and error. They devised a method to detect illegal motorcycles by attaching high-performance black boxes to BRT buses, but the low resolution of the black boxes made it difficult to identify motorcycle license plates.

They also held interviews with delivery riders and representatives of delivery agencies to hear their circumstances directly. "We have no choice because customers complain if the food is not delivered quickly and gets cold," "Since we earn income per delivery, it is inevitable to do so to make a living," and "Franchise restaurant owners also want fast delivery." Structural problems that push riders toward illegal driving were discovered. After analyzing the delivery industry ecosystem, the illegal motorcycle operation measures proposed by Sejong City were passed through the National Governors' Association and delivered to the government.

◆Changing delivery culture from 'speed competition' to 'safe driving' = In Sejong City, strengthening police crackdowns and activating citizen participation showed the greatest effect. Conscious of the active activities of the public reporting group, more riders began to comply with traffic laws. A Sejong City official said, "Within the rider community, there was even talk to 'be careful of the public reporting group,'" adding, "Joint police crackdowns themselves carry great symbolic significance."

Last October, a meeting with the two-wheeled delivery industry held by the motorcycle problem-solving TF in Sejong City.

The difference in legal violations appeared depending on whether the delivery box on the motorcycle displayed the company name. The more well-known the brand, the more the riders restrained reckless driving, being conscious of their surroundings. According to the Act on the Development of the Living Logistics Service Industry, which has been in effect since July, the government plans to introduce a certification system for quick service and delivery parcel agencies. This system will select qualified delivery companies as excellent businesses by conducting rider safety education and introducing standard contracts. It is reported that the government’s mid- to long-term view is that the certification system should be upgraded to a registration system. Currently, there is no entry barrier for new companies, which inevitably leads to speed competition.

A Sejong City official said, "Currently, consumers have no choice regarding delivery agencies," and added, "Companies that violate laws and focus solely on speed competition should naturally be eliminated from the market by moving away from anonymity and becoming branded."

There were also complaints from riders that they need to achieve more deliveries to cover expensive motorcycle insurance premiums. In response, the delivery industry suggested providing incentives such as insurance discounts and rental fee support for 'good riders' who complete safety education and comply well with regulations. Other proposals included diversifying delivery means with electric bicycles and electric motorcycles, establishing a short-distance delivery culture, and removing regional names from motorcycle license plates while increasing the size of the numbers. For consumers, campaigns encouraging "requesting safe delivery even if it is a little late" are being expanded.

Shin Jun-yong, President of the Korea Motorcycle Delivery Education Certification Cooperative Federation

◆Private sector’s self-regulation efforts... Launch of the Motorcycle Union = Self-regulation efforts are also underway in the private sector to promote a healthy delivery industry. The Korea Motorcycle Delivery Education Certification Cooperative Federation, launched in May, plans to promote various projects such as rider safety education, issuance of basic maintenance certificates, and introduction of a safe delivery certification system. Shin Jun-yong, the federation president, previously served as president of Asia Motorcycle (UAM) Touring and the founding first president of the Korea Motorcycle Federation (KMF). For the past three years, he has established and launched 12 cooperatives nationwide that can implement rider education, certification systems, and welfare policies. Already, more than 17,000 riders nationwide have expressed their willingness to participate in safe driving education.

The federation plans to build an offline motorcycle training center to solve rider manpower shortages and create jobs. President Shin said, "There are no motorcycle mechanic licenses or motorcycle training facilities in Korea," adding, "It is absurd to only strengthen crackdowns without proper education." He continued, "Currently, even sex offenders like Jo Doo-soon can be employed as riders," and said, "We will work with the government and delivery industry to create a certification system so that the public can order deliveries with peace of mind."