Promises of fast delivery bad for road safety

REGARDING the letter by Peter Bachtis, raising concerns about the Checkers 60 minute deliveries, I agree with the issues he raises and have been planning to write directly to Checkers on the matter myself.

The 60-minute period is ridiculous! From receipt of an order, it can take from 10 to 20 minutes to prepare for dispatch.

This leaves the delivery driver only 40 to 50 minutes on the road. The distance to be travelled is not considered, nor the type of traffic to be encountered or the weather.

I have witnessed a number of nearmisses around William Nichol and

Ballyclare drives and an accident when a rider was struck and injured at a road junction.

Checkers should be ashamed to put its riders at such risk. What is the desperate hurry anyway?

Checkers is not alone. All the companies doing such deliveries and the courier companies are also placing their employees at risk, due to requiring unrealistic delivery times.

Companies should be aware of the Occupational Health and Safety Act which could lead to top management being held personally liable for unsafe operations.

ROSS M MELDRUM |