Delivery riders and their responsibilities on the road

[maz8062]

I live in London - there so many scooters on the roads; delivery drivers, Uber Eats etc. - they wiz in and out of traffic, on L plates, and are a general menace on the streets.

What I’ve been keen to understand is whether they’re actually insured should they damage one’s car and I’ve spoke to a few that have insisted that they are. But yesterday one of them, undertaking me on the left hand side at speed, clipped my car. Did he stop? Nope - I gave chase, beeping my horn, but he vanished within a couple of traffic lights. Gone - no apology, no exchange of insurance details, just the wild Wild West.

So it got me thinking, how can one protect against these road users? They’re obviously not all insured, prepared to take risks for whatever reasons. I thought I’d share.

[Geertsen]

Honestly, all these Uber Eat, Deliveroo, Just Eat companies have caused a massive scourge where we live.

[Who_Goes_Blue]

Cost of living crisis, yet everyone is ordering home deliveries....

[WrekinCrew]

They may have insurance, but do they have business use / carriage of goods cover?
Can you even get business use on a provisional licence? (Many of them seem to have L plates)

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

Who_Goes_Blue said:

Cost of living crisis, yet everyone is ordering home deliveries....

I live in cul-de-sac of 12 houses, I constantly hear delivery bikes at least once a day. They always go to one of two houses, both of which are rented, and this morning one of them had a food delivery at 8:00AM. Whenever I walk past our local McDonalds there are always at least a dozen bikes waiting to pickup deliveries.

Even if these bikes were fully legal and had insurance I suspect that virtually none of them will have business cover. I would bet that the majority of the riders don't have insurance, don't have a licence and will never have taken a CBT despite slapping on a set of L plates.

Good luck claiming for any damage they cause. Also a lot of these riders are asylum seekers and working illegally, but again the government turn a blind eye.

[distinctivedesign]

I agree that the ever increasing numbers of these riders are becoming an annoyance.

As regards insurance, the position is murky. My son worked briefly for the provider beginning with 'D' and ending in 'oo' about five years ago, when between jobs for a while. At that time they insisted upon proof of insurance cover, and operatives would not get paid until it was provided. I cannot answer for the other competing firms, nor whether that is still even the case. Business cover was available at that time provided you had completed a Module 1 CBT test (he had to provide the certificate to the insurer).

[SJfW]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

Good luck claiming for any damage they cause. Also a lot of these riders are asylum seekers and working illegally, but again the government turn a blind eye.

Any attempt to clamp down on it would no doubt be met with protests about racism.

Really, its an entire industry born of flouting laws and rules and they ought to stop mucking about and come down on it like a ton of bricks.

[maz8062]

SJfW said:

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

Good luck claiming for any damage they cause. Also a lot of these riders are asylum seekers and working illegally, but again the government turn a blind eye.

Any attempt to clamp down on it would no doubt be met with protests about racism.

Really, its an entire industry born of flouting laws and rules and they ought to stop mucking about and come down on it like a ton of bricks.

There are lots of them in London, but it still caught me by surprise that he didn’t even bother to stop, explain himself, he just scarpered, taking risks on the road, weaving, jumping lights. I left it in the end, couldn’t be bothered to risk my licence.

I didn’t even have time to get his registration number. I think a dash cam is the answer.

[SpeedBash]

SJfW said:

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

Good luck claiming for any damage they cause. Also a lot of these riders are asylum seekers and working illegally, but again the government turn a blind eye.

Any attempt to clamp down on it would no doubt be met with protests about racism.

Really, its an entire industry born of flouting laws and rules and they ought to stop mucking about and come down on it like a ton of bricks.

I have recently seen several videos on social media of delivery drivers being targeted on raids so perhaps they are now starting to.

[P675]

distinctivedesign said:

I agree that the ever increasing numbers of these riders are becoming an annoyance.

As regards insurance, the position is murky. My son worked briefly for the provider beginning with 'D' and ending in 'oo' about five years ago, when between jobs for a while. At that time they insisted upon proof of insurance cover, and operatives would not get paid until it was provided. I cannot answer for the other competing firms, nor whether that is still even the case. Business cover was available at that time provided you had completed a Module 1 CBT test (he had to provide the certificate to the insurer).

Multiple people will use the same accounts, so one person is legit but 4 others aren't. Same with Uber and everything else where people are working doing these jobs but noone has ever actually met anybody.

[untakenname]

I've only used Justeat/Deliveroo a couple of times but each it said it would be a female delivering the order yet when the order arrived it was a male in a balaclava delivering.

Noticed the local Nando's to me now have a dedicated counter outside for food deliveries.

The ambiance has been ruined in my local Chinese restaurant by delivery riders coming in shouting in their earpieces as they wait for orders.

[alanshuff]

You do notice the riders for these platforms, but that's because they are pretty much mobile adverts for their respective platforms. These platforms do mandate and require proof of insurance, which is probably more than your local takeway does with their own drivers (who you can't spot as easily). They aren't perfect mind you - drivers can subcontract and it seems their checking goes a bit downhill (i.e. it's the account holders responsibility to check).

In terms of the appropriate insurance (i.e. covered for deliveries), I suppose that's something that can also be aimed at many commuters (if they have SDP only) or people going to more than one place of work with SDP&C, when they should have business insurance.

I do agree that these riders can be a menace at times, but unfair to extrapolate that to all riders of these platforms.

[RotorRambler]

SJfW said:

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

Good luck claiming for any damage they cause. Also a lot of these riders are asylum seekers and working illegally, but again the government turn a blind eye.

Any attempt to clamp down on it would no doubt be met with protests about racism.

Really, its an entire industry born of flouting laws and rules and they ought to stop mucking about and come down on it like a ton of bricks.

You are both wrong, was widely reported at the time

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4yjpv87v0o.a...

“ "Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals and fuels organised immigration crime," said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
"By enhancing our data sharing with delivery companies, we are taking decisive action to close loopholes and increase enforcement."
Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats said they were committed to the plan and would be stepping up enforcement”

Back to the OP, get a dashcam & report that kind of offence !

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

RotorRambler said:

You are both wrong, was widely reported at the time

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4yjpv87v0o.a...

"Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals and fuels organised immigration crime," said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
"By enhancing our data sharing with delivery companies, we are taking decisive action to close loopholes and increase enforcement."
Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats said they were committed to the plan and would be stepping up enforcement

Back to the OP, get a dashcam & report that kind of offence !

Oh that's OK then, just like they said they are stopping the boats? Or more like big business actually pull the strings and want cheap labour with no questions asked?

[anyoldcardave]

If you actually read the guff on the boxes, most seem to rent bikes, and the guff usually says " claim" on the too as well as the rental company and what they do, good reason to steer well clear of them. Nightmare in London and I suppose other towns and cities.

[rodericb]

RotorRambler said:

SJfW said:

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

Good luck claiming for any damage they cause. Also a lot of these riders are asylum seekers and working illegally, but again the government turn a blind eye.

Any attempt to clamp down on it would no doubt be met with protests about racism.

Really, its an entire industry born of flouting laws and rules and they ought to stop mucking about and come down on it like a ton of bricks.

You are both wrong, was widely reported at the time

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4yjpv87v0o.a...

"Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals and fuels organised immigration crime," said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
"By enhancing our data sharing with delivery companies, we are taking decisive action to close loopholes and increase enforcement."
Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats said they were committed to the plan and would be stepping up enforcement

Back to the OP, get a dashcam & report that kind of offence !

How are they going to track the "illegal workers" who are sub-contracting? Put a GPS chip in 'em somewhere? I believe this worked on tracking the location of said asylum seekers phone and cross-matching that with data from the food delivery company. So Instead of using their own phone there'll just be a single phone from the registered delivery person which gets passed from person to person, with the screen lock code written on the back. And the asylum seeker leaves their phone back at the hotel.

[anyoldcardave]

rodericb said:

RotorRambler said:

SJfW said:

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

Good luck claiming for any damage they cause. Also a lot of these riders are asylum seekers and working illegally, but again the government turn a blind eye.

Any attempt to clamp down on it would no doubt be met with protests about racism.

Really, its an entire industry born of flouting laws and rules and they ought to stop mucking about and come down on it like a ton of bricks.

You are both wrong, was widely reported at the time

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4yjpv87v0o.a...

"Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals and fuels organised immigration crime," said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
"By enhancing our data sharing with delivery companies, we are taking decisive action to close loopholes and increase enforcement."
Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats said they were committed to the plan and would be stepping up enforcement

Back to the OP, get a dashcam & report that kind of offence !

How are they going to track the "illegal workers" who are sub-contracting? Put a GPS chip in 'em somewhere? I believe this worked on tracking the location of said asylum seekers phone and cross-matching that with data from the food delivery company. So Instead of using their own phone there'll just be a single phone from the registered delivery person which gets passed from person to person, with the screen lock code written on the back. And the asylum seeker leaves their phone back at the hotel.

That is already happening, it is how they get round multiples using one account and the only contact with the company supplying the work,

Look at Youtube, people have been filming the goings on at these " Asylum Hotels " and exposing the goings on, Police even in London rarely stop uninsured vehicles and DVLA have now helped things by not checking insurance when taxing a vehicle.

I have experience of this, I took in a ULEZ diesel Mokka with an auto gearbox fault, it was cheap and fine for running around town so taxed it and used it, forgot to put it on the MID database.
Was not stopped once, eventually after about 10 months I got a fine from DVLA for taxing and using an uninsured vehicle, probably passed a camera Skoda roadside. I just put it MID.

If that is not about revenue what is? Extra RFL money from uninsured cars and the fines for doing so which those running illegal will ignore anyway, those running legal will get hassled forever lol.

Those running perfectly legal are a target of fines for parking and tolls, including not having time to read the myriad of signs as you drive, you would need to stop to read them properly, while those running illegal do not give a Fook.
The authorities encourage it .

[Alex Z]

WrekinCrew said:

They may have insurance, but do they have business use / carriage of goods cover?
Can you even get business use on a provisional licence? (Many of them seem to have L plates)

Yes you can. There’s a business not a million miles away that hires out scooters to delivery drivers complete with large top box, L Plates and insurance.

[Rob 131 Sport]

untakenname said:

I've only used Justeat/Deliveroo a couple of times but each it said it would be a female delivering the order yet when the order arrived it was a male in a balaclava delivering.

Noticed the local Nando's to me now have a dedicated counter outside for food deliveries.

The ambiance has been ruined in my local Chinese restaurant by delivery riders coming in shouting in their earpieces as they wait for orders.

I stopped going to an authentic Thai Restaurant that we’d frequented for years as the foyer was full of delivery drivers / riders. Fortunately my favourite Chinese Restaurant doesn’t do takeaways.

[Glassman]

SJfW said:

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

Good luck claiming for any damage they cause. Also a lot of these riders are asylum seekers and working illegally, but again the government turn a blind eye.

Any attempt to clamp down on it would no doubt be met with protests about racism.

Really, its an entire industry born of flouting laws and rules and they ought to stop mucking about and come down on it like a ton of bricks.

Maybe this is specific to the area you live in. In my area, the average motorbike rider is Brazilian.