Food delivery insurance
for young drivers

• Why it costs so much
• Why delivery drivers have so many accidents
• How to stay safe on the roads

Are you a young driver, looking for food delivery insurance? Then you will find - if you haven't already - that this insurance can be expensive.

The reason for this is that the accident rate for food delivery drivers is high - and for younger drivers, particularly those under 23, it is very high indeed. This is because of:

• Time pressures: hot food soon goes cold and customers complain
• Earning targets: the more deliveries you make, the more you earn
• Bad weather: the worse it is, the more people prefer to have a meal delivered, rather than fetch it themselves
• Working at night: the worst time for accidents when visibility decreases considerably.
• Backpacks: scooter and motorbike riders can have their balance and comfort badly affected by these
• Inexperience: for many delivery staff it is their first job, or a part time one, and they can spend a lot of time on the road despite having had little prior experience
• Insurance: this has been left until last but it's still an important point. A lot of delivery staff have pay-as-you-go insurance: they log on at the start of a shift then log off at the end of it. All the time they are logged on and, hopefully, delivering, it is costing them money so there is more incentive to dash to get jobs finished so that they can log off again.

All these factors encourage many young drivers to take risks they otherwise wouldn't, and the result is a much greater possibility of accidents.

The costs of accidents

The financial implication is that premiums go up to compensate the insurers for a greater number of claims. More important though is the human cost. An accident in a car can be bad enough but often it just results in a dented wing or other vehicle damage. A scooter or motorbike rider, however, is a lot more vulnerable and so there is more likelihood of bodily injury or even worse.

Unfortunately two wheeled vehicles attract lower insurance premiums since, in the event of an accident, they tend to do less damage to third parties, and so claims can be lower than for heavier vehicles. Add in the greater manouverability and lower fuel consumption a high proportion of food delivery drivers do opt for two wheeled transport; better for the insurers, but not so good for the riders.

Staying safe

• If you ride a bike or scooter, wear a high-viz jacket. Remember you may be able to see the cars; but they may not be able to see you.
• If you drive a bike or scooter, buy a pannier to carry food in. Back-packs are often uncomfortable, and can increase your risk of an accident.
• Try and work during daylight hours only if possible. Evenings and nights are the worst times to be on the road.
• Try to pick a work area you are familiar with. Many accidents are caused by people distracted by trying to find an unknown address.
• If you can deliver by car rather than on two wheels, do so.
• Finally, always remember that your own safety is more important than a hot meal!