"It Doesn't Feel Like Someone Else's Problem"... To Prevent Recurrence of Rider Accident Killed by 23t Truck

Memorials Continue for Delivery Riders in Seolleung Station Motorcycle Accident
525 Motorcycle Deaths Last Year Alone
One in Three Deaths in Seoul Are Delivery Workers
Experts Advise Against Tailgating and Cutting In

Black box footage of the motorcycle accident at Seolleung Station. Photo by Online Community Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] On the 26th, a motorcycle rider was fatally struck by a cargo truck on a road near Seolleung Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. This incident has raised urgent calls for measures to prevent safety accidents among delivery riders.

Delivery workers who heard the news expressed that this accident "does not feel like someone else's problem." They pointed out that being pressed for time during deliveries makes it impossible to fully comply with safety regulations, leaving them constantly exposed to accident risks. Some voices also call for structural changes in the delivery industry, such as the culture of rushing deliveries.

Experts emphasized that since two-wheeler traffic accidents often lead to serious outcomes like fatalities, it is crucial to strictly follow traffic safety rules.

According to reports, around 11:30 a.m. on the 26th, a delivery motorcycle rider in his 40s, identified as Mr. A, was struck and killed by a 23-ton cargo truck on a road near Seolleung Station. Mr. A was waiting at a signal directly in front of the truck. When the light changed, the truck started moving and ran over Mr. A.

Mr. A had started working as a delivery rider about five months ago after the company he worked for faced difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the police investigation, the cargo truck driver, Mr. B, reportedly stated that he did not see the motorcycle.

On the day of the accident, numerous posts and photos taken by witnesses were shared on online communities and social media, deepening the public's sorrow.

A black box video of the accident scene was also released, showing the motorcycle cutting in front of the stationary cargo truck, and as the signal changed, the truck hitting the motorcycle directly.

A memorial space has been set up near Seolleung Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, for a motorcycle delivery worker who died after being hit by a truck on the road.
Photo by Yonhap News

On the day following the accident, the 27th, a memorial space for Mr. A was set up between exits 8 and 9 of Seolleung Station, where delivery workers gathered to pay their respects. Delivery workers pointed out that the work environment, which does not allow for safe driving due to pressure for fast deliveries, was a contributing factor to the accident.

One netizen in a delivery worker community lamented, "While the motorcycle rider may share some fault, delivery workers are always pressed for time and thus always drive hurriedly. Watching the black box footage, you can see many motorcycle riders positioned in front of vehicles, not just Mr. A. This is the reality for delivery workers."

In fact, accidents involving motorcycles and other two-wheelers have been on the rise. According to the Road Traffic Authority's Traffic Accident Analysis System (TASS), the number of two-wheeler traffic accidents nationwide was 17,611 in 2018, 20,898 in 2019, and 21,258 last year. The number of fatalities from motorcycle accidents increased by 5.4%, from 498 in 2019 to 525 last year. Notably, in Seoul, 24 out of 65 motorcycle accident fatalities last year were delivery workers, meaning one in three fatalities was a delivery worker.

Some argue that Mr. A was at fault for cutting in front of the cargo truck, but there are also calls for structural changes in the delivery industry that encourage reckless driving. Delivery workers receive commissions based on the number of deliveries, forcing them to constantly check their phones for orders while driving. Recently, delivery platforms have been pressuring riders by notifying estimated delivery completion times, pushing them to speed and constantly exposing them to safety risks.

The Delivery Service Branch of the Service General Labor Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a memorial event for Mr. A at Seolleung Station and issued a statement saying, "The deceased rider represents us. We are forced into a speed competition among platforms to deliver food quickly to customers, and we run on the roads for survival."

They added, "Delivery workers have no choice but to keep looking at their phone screens on the road to receive order notifications. They are sent onto the roads without receiving training on how to ride motorcycles safely or precautions during deliveries," and said, "That rider could have been me." They called for recognition of the accident as an industrial accident and for strengthened safety education for delivery workers.

Experts stressed, since two-wheeler traffic accidents often lead to serious incidents such as fatalities, it is essential to follow safety rules, including avoiding blind spots that obstruct the driver's view.

Park Jihyun, Deputy Manager of the Road Traffic Authority's Public Relations Team, said, "Cargo trucks have a high chassis, creating blind spots, so when two-wheelers follow too closely or cut in, the risk of accidents is very high. Two-wheelers lack protective safety devices for the rider and have small bodies, so accidents often result in severe outcomes. Cargo truck accidents also have a very high fatality rate. Even when pressed for time, we urge everyone to follow safe driving guidelines to prevent accidents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.