! Motorcycle Fleet Operators: take this survey with your riders to understand their perception and improvement potentials: Motorcycle Rider Survey FORM for PORTAL … it would be amazing if you could share the finished survey with us: Thomas@RoadSafetyUAE.com
Motorcycle delivery safety is a big concern in the UAE, as each day, thousands of deliverymen across the country cope with life-threatening work-related risks, and the number of deliverymen is growing by the day! The pressures of the job are constant: dangerous encounters with motorists and long hours in return for wages and occasional tips. Then there is the weather – especially in summer, more people are choosing to order in their meals and groceries rather than venture outside.
Good link about the daily experiences of delivery men: http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/society/a-day-in-the-life-of-uae-deliverymen-1.2026918
Great holistic article about rider safety (May 2022): https://gulfnews.com/uae/how-delivery-riders-are-being-protected-in-the-uae-1.87923654
Restaurants know that delivering orders quickly is a good way to expand business. Even though some restaurants and shops don’t set strict time limits for deliveries, these men know that they have to be quick. This pressure – and the fear of getting scolded by their employers – can make them literally zigzag through traffic, risking their lives and those of others.
Unfortunately, deliverymen have few defenders or advocates for their well-being. According to the data revealed by Dubai Police, the vast majority of motorbike accidents are attributed to professional delivery riders. The majority of motorcycle collisions with other vehicles were reported to be caused by lack of attention or awareness on the part of the driver of the other vehicle. Still, motorcycle riders have almost no protection around them and hence, they MUST display defensive driving! There is no way for inconsiderate behavior of motorcycle delivery riders, which can be observed especially with regards to driving on pedestrian walkways, taking U-turns or short-cuts at illegal positions, bypassing speed bumps, ignoring pedestrians on marked zebra crossings, undertaking using the right hand shoulder, overtaking on highways in between moving vehicles, and many more dangerous and illegal moves.
May 2022: Gulf News featured a great and comprehensive article - https://gulfnews.com/uae/how-delivery-riders-are-being-protected-in-the-uae-1.87923654
In 2021, RTA issued a new set of rules and fines and UAE’s leading media covered the subject prominently:
January 2021: https://gulfnews.com/uae/transport/dubai-takes-major-steps-to-ensure-safety-and-ease-of-motorcycle-delivery-service-1.76305710. Infographic included in the article:
July 2021: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/transport/dubai-new-traffic-fines-announced-for-delivery-riders
Responsible delivery fleet operators have a sound policy in place to protect their riders, covering the risk and hazards, which are:
- Road traffic (risk of road accidents)
- Time pressure (just-in-time delivery)
- Vehicles (poorly maintained, equipment not appropriate)
- Unbalanced, awkward loads
- Vibration
- Bad weather, inappropriate clothing
- Lack of protective clothing (high visibility vests, helmets)
- Lack of training
- Lone working
- Contact with clients (risk from aggressive, drunken and drugged clients)
- Working at night
- Handling of money (risk of robberies)
Recommendations on policies include:
- Ensuring the maintenance and condition of delivery vehicles, for example are they: clean; tyres in good condition, head lights, brake lights and all other lights and indicators working properly
- Checking that engine’s oil and water level are within the appropriate limits
- Checking that all bike’s accessories such as horn, mirrors etc are in good working condition
- Ensuring that the insulated food carrying box is clean and closed properly
- Immediate reporting of any damage or malfunction of the bike
- Approval of helmets by the company’s health and safety officer
- Compliance by drivers of traffic laws and regulations and responsibility of drivers for any traffic violations
- Ensuring that the delivery route is decided before the driver leaves the shop
- Instructions in case of an accident: the driver must never let himself get involved in a dispute with the other party, never assume responsibility for the accident and only answer questions to police officers and his manager
- Maintenance of a log book by managers at each shop for all information related to drivers (personal details, complaints from customers, complaints from the public etc)
- Ensuring the competence of drivers to apply the necessary procedures regarding customer service and other company and restaurant policies is checked
- Instructions to avoid violence and robbery, for example: never handling money in public view parking in well light places; being aware of any suspicious persons; never entering customer’s houses or flats
- Instructions that if there is any indication that a delivery might endanger a driver it should not be carried out and that if a driver feels weary of a situation to inform the manager and leave the area immediately
- Instructions regarding what to do in the case of robbery, for example: remain calm; cooperate with the robber; try to make as many observations about the robber as possible
- Instructions to avoid unnecessary stops, for example: filling up with gas at the beginning of their shift; never taking on another passenger; never offering help unless it is an emergency
- Instructions on what to do if there is no answer at a place of delivery, for example, the driver must leave and inform the manager of the shop
- Instructions to wear uniforms / protective gear
- Instruction regarding the safe parking of bikes
- Instructions to shift managers to check vehicles, especially: tyres; oil and water; brakes; lights; indicators; horn; seat belts; mirrors; fenders; helmets and the chin clasp; any damage on the vehicles seat or bumper shields
- All accidents must be reported to the company Health and Safety Officer
- Instructions regarding assisting an injured person
- Instructions never to speed even if the order is late.
Safe behaving & driving instructions for the delivery bike rider:
Equipment:
- Crash helmet: should be certified, integral, tight-fitting.
- Special clothing: should be protective against mechanical (accidents) and adequate for the actual climate conditions. Leather and special fabrics are recommended.
- Gloves: not too thick, protective against mechanical abrasion (accidents) and climate conditions.
- Shoes: no shoelaces, slip-resistant, protective against mechanical abrasion (accidents) and climate conditions. Biking boots might be useful.
- Sunglasses might be useful.
Human factors:
- Do not drink alcohol.
- Do not ride if tired.
- Do not ride at dawn or at night; take breaks.
- Avoid heavy meals before/while riding.
- Wear clothing appropriate to the weather conditions.
- Do not use drugs.
- Do not take medicines that can cause sleepiness, or affect reflexes and senses.
- Do not take medicines without checking with a doctor whether they affect driving abilities.
- Consult a specialist if you think you are experiencing a high level of stress, feel depressed or get angry easily.
- Do not use mobile phones while riding (even with headsets: the reaction time decreases significantly). Stop for the call.
- Attend medical examinations provided by the employer.
In the event of a crash:
- If there is a risk of being crushed by the motorcycle, jump off the motorcycle.
- Relax your body – bone fracture is more likely if muscles are contracted while falling.
- Do not try to get off the bike while sliding on the road – you could be injured more badly while trying to get off.
In the traffic:
- Always drive DEFENSIVELY!
- Keep in the centre of the lane!
- Do not zigzag across the road
- If stuck in the jam, do not attempt to slip ahead between the stationery cars (they will not expect to see you and may move suddenly if the traffic ahead begins to move)!
- Always take extra care when entering a crossroads.
- Keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you!
- Keep to the speed limit!
- Be prepared for others to drive or ride unsafely!
- Signal a change in your direction in advance!
- Do not obstruct traffic trying to overtake!
- Regardless of weather conditions always drive with lights on – for your visibility.
- The important thing is getting to your destination in one piece. Leave enough time for your journey so you don’t have to hurry and take risks.
Sources:
https://osha.europa.eu/en/tools-and-publications/…/delivery-despatch-riders.pdf
https://www.arrivealive.co.za/Safety-and-the-Delivery-Bike-Rider
Share your story
This made a very interesting read. While the article covered all very good points related to riding a bike in the UAE, I felt that there could be an additional point to all this – a separate lane for motorbikes. I don’t think it is too much of an ask considering that the number of bikers has increased.
I have seen an accident right before my home a few months back and it worries me lot, to see these delivery men staking their life for the sake of say what AED 1000 per month. When people in a car many a time don’t survive a crash, I shudder at what happens when a biker gets hit! I think that’s food for thought for all of us, when they are risking their everything for us to be fed.