Brussels, (Brussels Morning)- More than half of the parcel deliveries who took part in a survey by the Vias safety institute said that they sometimes or often drive too fast. This is apparent from the study on Tuesday, which Vias carried out on behalf of Postal Minister Petra De Sutter (Green). For Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo), the causes must be tackled “by means of better working conditions and less pressure on the deliverers’, he told BRUZZ.
The aim of the study was to map the impact of parcel deliveries on mobility and road safety in Belgium. Two samples of one thousand Belgians were surveyed. Vias also questioned a hundred parcel deliveries himself.
The study first revealed the paradox that eight in ten respondents regularly buy things online, but three in four are also annoyed by the presence of parcel deliveries. That’s true even if they don’t break the rules. For example, six out of ten respondents are annoyed when parcel deliveries load and unload on the road, rather than on a bicycle or footpath, while this is permitted by law.
According to Minister De Sutter, this can be explained by the attitude of the drivers themselves. For example, more than half of the drivers surveyed indicated that they sometimes or often drive too fast. A third also did so near a school. Half also consider cycling and pedestrian paths as a parking space and a third even say they drive aggressively. A third say they are absent-minded when getting out.
‘Good news too’
But De Sutter also remembers good news from the study and notes that the sector is making efforts. She says in a press release that she “gets the impression that road safety is getting a more central place in the parcel sector”. She also says it is remarkable that four out of ten respondents would like to pay more for their shipment if this means that the delivery person works under better conditions. Half of them are happy to pick up their package at a collection point if this means they have to pay less.
“We need to tackle the causes of the behaviour through better working conditions and less pressure on the deliverers,” said Minister Gilkinet in the press release. “At the same time, I am committed to promoting more sustainable and ecological transport for deliveries. Many players in the sector are already innovating and are eager to be involved. They showed me that the bicycle can play an important role. The potential is there: no less than twenty percent of the journeys with vans in Belgium can be made with cargo bikes. This is an excellent solution for the last kilometre, especially in the city.”
Finally, De Sutter points to various actions she is taking to improve the situation. For example, a study is underway to encourage the use of parcel lockers.
