Pandasafe Has Potential To Cultivate Safe Riding Culture Among Delivery Riders - Loke

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- The implementation of the Pandasafe programme, a new initiative by food delivery company Foodpanda, has the potential to cultivate a culture of safe riding among delivery or p-hailing riders, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

Not only did the minister laud the initiative, but he also said that the programme can encourage comprehensive risk management and raise awareness of road safety within the food delivery system.

“Pandasafe uses telematics technology to assess how riders ride and collaborates with insurance companies and other stakeholders to instil a safety culture.

“This is the kind of initiative that should be emulated. Safety must be integrated into the corporate systems of all platform-based companies,” he told reporters after launching the initiative here today.

Loke also warned against business practices that may pressure p-hailing riders to compromise safety for the sake of meeting delivery quotas or tight deadlines.

“We don’t want systems that punish riders for not meeting strict delivery times, which in turn could lead to dangerous riding habits like speeding, illegal overtaking, or taking unnecessary risks to chase more trips. This should not be happening,” he stressed.

He said statistics show that two-thirds of fatal road accidents in Malaysia involve motorcyclists, with delivery riders being among the most frequent users of public roads.

“That’s why we’re strongly pushing for safety to become part of the working culture across the delivery sector,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Loke noted that while the government can create policy frameworks, lasting change can only happen if the private sector also takes responsibility.

“Government can set policies, but real, lasting impact will only happen when the industry plays its part,” he said.

The minister said that behavioural data collected through telematics can serve as a benchmark for identifying and rewarding safe riders, helping to instil disciplined and responsible riding habits.

“I hope the company will consider providing additional incentives to riders who meet safety KPIs (key performance indicators). This can be a good motivation and show that safety is part of daily operations and corporate culture,” he said.

Loke also suggested collaboration between the delivery industry and insurance companies to offer premium discounts to riders with good driving records who are not involved in accidents or traffic offences.

-- BERNAMA