Debated in Parliament on 7 May 2019.
Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Transport whether he can provide an update on the Ministry's efforts to encourage food delivery companies that engage deliverymen using PMDs or e-bikes to make food deliveries to take up third-party liability insurance covering their operations and promote safe riding habits amongst their deliverymen.
Mr Speaker, in August 2018, the Active Mobility Advisory Panel (AMAP) recommended that the Government work with key stakeholders to encourage the uptake of third-party liability insurance. Since then, LTA has been engaging with major food delivery companies and two of them, Deliveroo and GrabFood, have purchased third-party liability insurance for their e-scooter riders. Meanwhile, AMAP is considering stronger measures to ensure that food delivery riders will be covered by third-party liability insurance when riding for work.
LTA has also engaged the food delivery companies to educate their riders on safe riding practices and to promote rider awareness on regulations. The companies will disseminate safety messages and reminders via their phone applications and during their on-boarding sessions for new riders. Their riders will also be encouraged to attend the Safe Riding Programme.
In October 2018, LTA, MOM and the Traffic Police jointly issued a circular, calling for the food delivery companies to ensure the safety and health of their delivery riders by providing sufficient instruction, training and supervision. The circular also calls for companies to provide avenues for the reporting of unsafe riding by members of public.
I would like to thank the hon Senior Minister of State for the comprehensive answer to my question. I congratulate MOT as well as LTA for securing the cooperation of these companies. I have a suggestion. Would these companies make available their contact details such that there are any claims to be made, these claims can be made easily? At this point in time, we find it difficult to make claims against these companies.
I thank Mr Pillai for the clarification. I understand that the companies already have avenues for reporting unsafe riding behaviour of their riders that members of public can use. At the same time, I believe there is an avenue for the members of public to file claims, through the same avenue. If that is not available, we will be willing to discuss with the food delivery companies to allow that to happen.
PAPERCUTS