Ensuring traffic safety of cargo motorcycle drivers in last-mile delivery services in major Vietnamese cities

Abstract

The prevalence of cargo motorcycles (cargo MCs) is rapidly changing urban freight transportation in Vietnamese cities. As the dominant mode of transportation in last-mile delivery (LMD) services in Vietnam, cargo MCs are found throughout the country. However, little is known about the risk of crashes involving cargo MC drivers, the factors affecting road crashes, and the perceived risk of crashes among cargo MC drivers. This information is vital given the rising safety concerns and the economic losses due to traffic crashes in the country.This study characterized traffic crashes involving cargo MCs as being either minor or major. Specifically, our survey of 726 cargo MC drivers in Hanoi showed that 42.01% of respondents had experienced a crash within the last year, and 13.37% of respondents had been involved in at least one major traffic crash. Competition for work and unsafe driving behavior were the main reasons underlying these risks. Crash severity varied depending on the number of years that the drivers had worked in LMD, job type, income perception, delivery pressure, smoking and drinking habits, and mobile phone usage. Major crashes were also associated with the distance travelled daily and the number of trips to the distribution hub. Conversely, working overtime, lack of rest stops, daily order status, and traffic violations were associated with minor crashes. These findings suggest that cargo MC drivers face numerous risks and that efforts to address these challenges are urgently required in order to promote the adoption of sustainable and healthy shipment practices.