Suzhou excludes red light waiting time from delivery schedules for couriers

Suzhou's traffic management authorities have introduced a pioneering policy nationwide to address road safety and working conditions for delivery riders. The new system, part of the "Warm Newcomer Action" initiative, excludes time spent legally waiting at red lights from the official delivery time calculations for couriers. This change intends to eliminate the conflict riders face between obeying traffic laws and meeting tight delivery deadlines, which often leads to dangerous driving behavior.

Previously, delivery platforms calculated time based solely on travel distance and duration, disregarding the time couriers spent waiting at traffic signals. This created a situation where riders felt compelled to break traffic rules, such as running red lights or speeding, to avoid being late. Suzhou's new approach integrates data to automatically identify and deduct compliant waiting periods, thereby extending the allowed delivery time. The principle is to ensure that "compliance with the law does not lead to delays, and waiting does not count as a loss."

The initiative also incorporates measures to protect riders' well-being. Through integrated data systems, traffic authorities will enforce mandatory rest breaks after four consecutive hours of work and require riders to log off after 12 consecutive hours. This is designed to alleviate the strain on riders and reduce instances of rule-breaking driven by delivery pressure. Several instant delivery platforms, including Meituan, have joined the "Lighthouse Alliance" to support these safety initiatives.

A unified safety scoring system will also be implemented within the alliance. Riders' safety points can be adjusted based on traffic violations or safe driving practices. Accumulated points can be redeemed for various benefits, such as cash rewards, phone credits, meal discounts, and even housing assistance, incentivizing safer operations within the delivery sector.