App enables police and food delivery firms to track couriers' traffic violations
Pudong police are using mobile technology to tackle traffic violations committed by food delivery men.
The police launched a mobile phone application on Thursday to record food couriers’ traffic violation records — the next stage after a paper card system was launched in May.
If a delivery man is caught with a traffic violation, the police officer will not only issue a penalty on site, but also mark a record of the offense on the system.
Every traffic police officer and food delivery operator in the Pudong New Area will be required to install the application, and more than 3,000 couriers have already done so.
In the first half of this year, the city had 76 traffic accidents involving catering delivery men that resulted in injuries or death. Several riders were killed as a result of their own traffic violations, police said.
“Police officers can simply scan the offender’s QR code on phone if they spot a violation,” said Zhu Rongxue, an officer with the local traffic police.
“Every violation will be counted in the system, and offenders with multiple records will have to learn traffic regulations online, or do volunteer service on roads.”
The police said every registered rider has a 12-point quota for every three months. Running a red light, for example, will be marked as a six-point offense, and riding a scooter on sidewalks will be marked as a three-point misdemeanor.
If the 12 points are used up within three months, the offender will have to learn traffic rules and take a test via the application; if offenders notch up 24 points in three months, they will be suspended by the delivery platforms, and 36 points will mean a good chance of being fired.
The district police launched the system in cooperation with food delivery companies including Meituan and ele.me.
“Though the measure is not compulsory for companies, we will be very cooperative with the police in carrying out the new system,” said Wang Xinchen, a manger with Meituan’s safety management department.
“The traffic violations are dangerous for the riders, and also add operation costs for the company. Media exposure on the traffic accidents also tarnish the companies’ branding,” Wang added.
“We decided to develop the digital system as problems began to pop up after the paper system was put into operation,” said Zhu. “Some couriers would claim to have lost the cards to avoid the punishment.”