The Two-Wheeled Tussle: Are Delivery Drivers South Africa’s New Road Menace?

In the hierarchy of South African road grievances, minibus taxis have long held the undisputed crown. Their legendaryand often terrifyingmanoeuvres are the stuff of daily commuter lore. But a new challenger has entered the ring, and according to a growing chorus of motorists, they’re even worse.

The accused? The helmet-clad, delivery-box-toting motorcyclists of Checkers Sixty60.

Online forums and social media are filling up with complaints from frustrated drivers who claim these delivery riders have taken the title for the most reckless behaviour on the road. The grievances read like a list of traffic sins: riding the wrong way up one-way streets, mounting pavements, weaving through standstill traffic at dangerous speeds, and treating pedestrian walkways as their personal shortcuts.

The Need for Speed: Incentive vs. Safety

So, what’s fuelling this hurry? The answer seems to lie in the economics of the gig. While Shoprite has stated that its popular “on-time or free” delivery guarantee is funded by the company itself, and drivers are not directly penalised for being late, there is a powerful indirect incentive.

Drivers are reportedly paid per delivery. In this model, speed is literally money. The faster they complete one drop-off, the quicker they can move on to the next, maximising their daily earnings. This creates a natural pressure to push the limits, even if it means bending a few road rules along the way.

For customers waiting for their milk and bread, this haste is a benefit. For other road users, it’s a nightmare.

A Corporate Response: Training and Telematics

Faced with these public concerns, Shoprite has outlined its safety measures. The company states that all drivers undergo training and that it works closely with its delivery partners to reinforce the importance of safe and considerate road use.

They also provide a public hotline (0800 00 6060) for reporting both good and bad driving behaviour, with promises that all reports are logged, reviewed, and investigated. Furthermore, the company employs telematics to monitor driver behaviour, using data to identify and address risky patterns.

A Popularity That Won’t Quit

Despite the road safety debate, there’s no denying that Sixty60 is doing something incredibly right from a business perspective. A recent industry report revealed that Checkers Sixty60 is more than twice as popular as its nearest grocery delivery competitors, Pick n Pay asap! and Woolworths Dash.

This presents a complex picture. The very hustle that irritates other motorists is part of the engine that has driven Sixty60 to its dominant market position. The company is now tasked with a delicate balancing act: maintaining its lightning-fast, market-leading service while ensuring its fleet of drivers doesn’t become a public safety hazard. For now, the battle for road supremacyand public opinionrages on.