Food delivery apps cause spike in scooter and motorbike accidents on Victorian roads

Home delivery apps have taken off, but their growing popularity has come at a price for the drivers themselves, it’s been revealed.

The popularity of Deliveroo, Uber Eats and other apps has a dangerous downside.

The booming popularity of food delivery services such as Uber Eats and Menulog has a dangerous downside.

Police say the increasing number of motorbikes and scooters, drivers’ inattention in high-density traffic and riders from overseas relying on sat nav is a risky mix causing serious road accidents.

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Food delivery drivers are fast becoming over-represented in road accident statistics, with those working in Melbourne’s inner east some of the most vulnerable to injury, police say.

About 100 collisions between cars and motorbike or motor scooter riders at work were recorded by police in the past 12 months, Acting Senior Sergeant Martin McLean said.

Of these, about 11 were in Stonnington and Port Phillip.

Often the drivers were from overseas and here to study or work, Acting Sen Sgt McLean said, meaning they were unfamiliar with local roads.

“They’re not familiar with the area they’re delivering in so they’re using the food delivery app directing them where to go and they’re distracted by it,” he said.

He warned even short periods of inattention on the road could result in devastating consequences not just for the delivery drivers but also pedestrians and other road users.

He said police would be out in force across the state over the Easter long weekend as part of Operation Nexus, with Prahran Police paying particular attention to delivery drivers.

“As Easter approaches we'll be attempting to make sure people are safe on our roads,” he said.