Red light for fast food that’s just too fast

FOOD deliverymen in Pudong will be stationed at 20 busy crossroads in the district during the morning rush hour for the next two months.

They are not there to deliver food, but to dissuade other e-bike riders from breaking traffic rules.

In an attempt to deal with widespread traffic violations by food deliverers, Pudong police began a campaign yesterday morning to teach them the rules of the road.

Staff from Meituan, Ele.me and Dada will work as volunteers the busiest parts of the district, including Lujiazui and Zhangjiang high-tech park.

Over 10,000 food deliverymen work for the three businesses, which account for 80 percent of deliveries in Pudong.

Besides their volunteer work, they will sign a pledge not to run red lights, ride in the wrong direction or in motor lanes, or use mobile phones while riding.

A printed copy of the pledge, will be boldly displayed on the boxes carried on the backs of their bikes.

Pudong police introduced an app to log food deliverymen’s traffic offenses last September.

So far about 1,000 of them have accumulated demerit points via the system.

The app adds six points for running a red light and three points for riding in the wrong direction.

If 36 points are accumulated, the delivery companies have agreed to at least temporarily suspend the offenders from their jobs.

So far no one has reached the 36-point limit.