Baemin Rider School Safety Training Effect Sparks Attention
6,000 Riders to Participate in Safety Training This Year
Nokchon-ri, Hwado-eup, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do is a 'holy ground' for delivery riders. This is because it houses the only offline two-wheeler training institution in the delivery industry, the Baemin Rider School. Already, 13,000 riders have visited this place for training. It is not a stereotyped safety education. Training is conducted by experiencing situations that may occur during operation on a track. This training has been found to actually contribute to riders' safe driving. Baedal Minjok plans to actively expand the training again this year.
Woowa Brothers, which is in charge of Baemin's logistics services, announced on the 26th that it plans to train 6,000 riders at Baemin Rider School this year. Baemin Rider School was opened in May 2021 to cultivate riders' awareness of safe driving and to pass on delivery service know-how. The facility, which spans about 2,500㎡, includes not only a theory classroom but also various tracks resembling actual road environments. Riders can experience sudden situations caused by seasonal changes in road surface conditions and traffic signals. Training can also be conducted indoors during rainy weather. To minimize noise and pollution, all training is conducted using electric bikes.
At Baemin Rider School, riders who wish to receive training can do so for free even if they do not work for Baemin. The regular program is a 4-hour course. Training is conducted seven times a week. Instructors with over 20 years of experience in two-wheeler training provide in-depth education tailored to the riders' capabilities based on their experience. Additionally, to enhance the quality of education, Baemin Rider School operates an educational advisory group centered on experts from six organizations including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the National Police Agency, the Road Traffic Authority, the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, the Korea Transport Institute, and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency.
The number of riders completing the training has been increasing every year. It rose from 2,327 in 2021 to 5,412 in 2022, more than doubling. Last year, the cumulative number of graduates exceeded 13,000 just two years and seven months after opening. A Baemin Rider School official explained, "To create a healthy delivery industry, riders performing delivery tasks are the most important. We designed the training facilities and curriculum prioritizing the riders' perspective and are continuously upgrading them to match the changing environment every year."
The reason Baemin Rider School is gaining attention is that riders, pressed for time, are constantly exposed to accident risks during work. According to the Road Traffic Authority, as of 2022, the number of two-wheeler traffic accidents totaled 18,295, a decrease of 11.2% compared to the previous year, but the number of fatalities increased by 5.4% to 484. Moreover, two-wheeler accidents can also cause harm to pedestrians and others.
In this situation, the safety education effect of Baemin Rider School has been proven through joint research with the Road Traffic Authority. The Baemin Rider School training increases safety driving knowledge and attitudes?abilities necessary for riders to drive safely?by 128%. Jeong Mi-kyung, a senior researcher at the Road Traffic Authority who conducted this study, said, "Since the effectiveness of safety education for delivery two-wheeler drivers has been proven, safety education needs to be strengthened going forward."
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