Concerns over scooter delivery drivers' behaviour on the road
"At some or other point, there needs to be some sort of regulation that comes in there even if it's just in terms of the motorbikes the guys are using, their gear, the training these guys receive..."
Picture: Pixabay
Gugs Mhlungu spoke to resident Motoring Enthusiast, Warren Tucker.
Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below [Skip to 12:09].
The growth of delivery services has seen an increase in the number of delivery drivers we see on our roads.
These drivers, often not from South Africa, face a lot of criticism as many believe they lack driving skills.
Tucker says he chatted to a couple of these drivers and one of them indicated that there's some sort of racket taking place.
"What this guy explained to me is that they will pay an individual, we'll use Malawi for example, they will send home R1500 or R2000, what will then happen is that they will get a licence from that country and they will send the licence to the person here and that person never having taken a test of any kind, they get this drivers licence and then decide to drive on the roads here."
- Warren Tucker, Motoring Enthusiast
Tuckers explains that if you are not from South Africa, you are allowed to use your licence from your country of origin, providing it's valid.
"... you can produce that licence here and you are able to drive on our roads. Having not have a test of any kind. They take it that where you got issued the licence, you went through the necessary tests and everything to make sure you can comply with the rules of the road."
- Warren Tucker, Motoring Enthusiast
"You have a situation where a lot of the scooter boys are foreign nationals, whether they are here legally or not."
- Warren Tucker, Motoring Enthusiast
Tucker acknowledges that these drivers offer a well-needed service but believes there needs to be some checks and balances put in place.
"At some or other point, there needs to be some sort of regulation that comes in there even if it's just in terms of the motorbikes the guys are using, their gear, the training these guys receive because let's face facts, that whole scooter delivery system has changed people's ways of going out and shopping completely and I doubt it will ever get to a point where it will go back to these guys not being there and people going into the store and buying like before."
- Warren Tucker, Motoring Enthusiast
Scroll up to listen to the full interview.