Food Delivery Services Causing Increasing Number of Accidents in South Korea
This shouldn’t come as surprising news to anyone living in Korea that the moped delivery drivers are causing an increasing number of accidents:
Nowadays, more restaurant owners use delivery apps like Baedal Minjok, Yogiyo and Baedaltong to sell their goods, and the market for deliveries has steadily increased. In 2018, sales for delivery services reached 5 trillion won ($4.4 billion). This is four times the amount of sales 10 years ago. Time is money for couriers who receive an average of 3,500 won per delivery. This is why they resort to violating traffic laws to quickly finish off as many deliveries as they can.
Joong Ang Ilbo
“My children and I were walking on the sidewalk once when we were almost hit by a passing delivery guy speeding on his motorbike,” said Kim Yong-chul, a resident of Seongnam, Gyeonggi.
“It’s always scary when a speeding motorbike cuts in front of me when I’m driving,” said Baek Gyeong-ae, who lives in Goyang, Gyeonggi. “I’m always worried that an accident will occur.”
According to data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the number of car accidents has decreased consistently for the last five years. However, during the same time period, the number of accidents caused by speeding motorbikes increased 32 percent.
You can read more at the link.
Not just in Korea, it’s becoming an issue in large cities in Europe. Amsterdam is considering not allowing mopeds on bike paths at all. Now if it is a low power moped (based on engine size) it is allowed on the bike path. The proposal will ban all motorized vehicles from bike paths. This won’t stop the delivery bikes (who use the bike path with modified engines anyway) but it will catch the notice of the police. Of course the delivery services are against it, so we will see what happens.
One thing I’ve seen lately that is adding to the number of deliveries is delivery of drinks from cafes and other drink specialty shops. It’s not unusual to see the delivery driver show up and pick up one drink for delivery.
Was much nicer when it was “coffee girls”
Good thing Seoul is building the scooter paths….I mean bike paths, yeah bike paths.