Delivery on-demand services are unquestionably convenient. They allow people to shop from the convenience of their homes and have items ranging from furniture to groceries delivered right to their front doors.
There are thousands of proprietary delivery vehicles on the road and also many individuals who use their personal vehicles to perform freelance delivery work. Unfortunately, the proliferation of delivery vehicles on the roads puts everyone at increased risk of major collisions.
Why does the increase in delivery vehicle traffic increase the possibility of a major crash?
Drivers may not know an area well
Long-gone are the days when one driver handled the same route every day for years. Major delivery fleets now send their drivers all over broad geographic regions. They are often dependent on navigation software to make their deliveries. Delivery drivers could therefore end up performing unpredictable and sudden maneuvers to avoid missing a turn. That can make them a major hazard to others on the road who have very little time to react to their sudden maneuvers.
Delivery drivers may be too tired to stay safe
The demanding delivery schedules set by companies might keep a local driver on the road for 12 hours straight. Especially if they got up early to get their children to school before coming to work, it may have been a long time since they last had sleep or a decent meal. Fatigue can affect someone’s driving ability and make them prone to mistakes and longer reaction times. Blood sugar issues triggered by going ours without an actual meal could exacerbate the driving challenges triggered by fatigue.
Delivery drivers often park in unsafe places
Delivery drivers are subject to very strict scheduling requirements and may have to drop off hundreds of packages on any given day. Delivery driver’s drivers may park on the unpaved shoulder of a rural road near a curve to access someone’s driveway. They may turn their flashers on and leave the vehicle running but parked on a public street that is barely wide enough to allow for two lanes of traffic. Drivers who suddenly encounter a parked delivery vehicle can potentially get into a preventable collision, especially during times of inclement weather or after the sun sets.
In some cases, a delivery driver may be self-employed. Other times, a driver’s employer may have a corporate insurance policy that can reimburse those affected by wrecks caused by delivery vehicles. Seeking compensation from the right party can help someone pay for medical expenses and other losses triggered by a delivery vehicle collision. Seeking legal guidance is a good way to get started.