Meituan to Time Red Light Stops for Delivery Couriers
Meituan is developing a new feature that will account for time spent waiting at red lights in delivery timelines. The aim is to reduce pressure on couriers to speed, potentially covering over one million riders.
Chinese technology firm Meituan is reportedly developing a new feature that will incorporate time spent waiting at red lights into delivery schedules. The function is currently in internal testing and is expected to be gradually rolled out by the end of the year, potentially covering over one million couriers.
This initiative addresses concerns about traffic safety, where delivery couriers have previously faced pressure to break traffic laws to meet tight delivery deadlines. Older systems often only accounted for travel distance and driving time, neglecting legal waiting periods at traffic signals, which could lead couriers to engage in risky behavior.
The city of Suzhou has already pioneered a similar system in collaboration with its traffic management department. This system automatically excludes time spent waiting at red lights from delivery calculations, aiming to eliminate the dilemma between obeying traffic laws and meeting delivery times.
Meituan has also previously taken steps to enhance courier safety. Last December, the company upgraded its "no red-light running" incentive program, offering daily cash rewards to couriers who adhere to traffic signals.