The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) in Kochi has launched a significant crackdown on online delivery companies, holding them accountable for widespread road safety violations linked to their ultra-fast delivery promises. The department has formally issued show cause notices to these firms, demanding explanations for the dangerous practices observed among their delivery riders.
The Core Issue: Speed Over Safety
MVD officials pinpointed the root cause as the intense pressure created by business models promising delivery within an extremely short time frame, such as the popular '10-minute delivery' service. This pressure, they argue, directly forces delivery agents to engage in reckless and high-speed driving to meet unrealistic deadlines.
Transport commissioner C Nagaraju emphasized that such models propagate a dangerous message, implicitly suggesting that saving time is more critical than preserving lives. The department's stance is clear: these fast delivery systems require an urgent reassessment with road safety as the paramount concern.
Catalog of Violations and Tragic Consequences
The notices detail a pattern of serious traffic violations by delivery personnel, which have become alarmingly common. These include:
- Jumping red lights to save seconds.
- Making improper and sudden lane changes.
- Riding two-wheelers without wearing helmets.
Officials state that these actions collectively pose a significant risk to public safety, endangering not just the riders themselves but also pedestrians and other motorists.
The regulatory intervention was not triggered by minor infractions alone. The MVD acted following multiple reports of accidents, some of which resulted in fatalities, involving delivery agents. These tragic outcomes underscored the urgent need for official action.
Companies Asked to Account for Safety Measures
In the show cause notices, the implicated companies have been directed to provide a detailed account of their policies. Specifically, the MVD has asked them to explain:
- How they ensure their rapid delivery system does not compromise road safety standards.
- What concrete measures they have implemented to guarantee the safety of their delivery riders on the road.
The department has issued a stern warning, indicating that strict action will follow if violations persist. This move signals a shift towards holding the aggregator companies responsible for the on-road behavior of their contracted workforce, rather than placing the blame solely on individual riders.
This crackdown in Kochi sets a potential precedent for other Indian cities grappling with similar issues arising from the aggressive expansion of quick-commerce platforms. The focus is now on how these companies will respond and whether systemic changes will be made to prioritize human safety over delivery speed.
