KUALA LUMPUR: Delivery riders with clean traffic records and responsible riding behaviour should be rewarded with lower insurance premiums, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke yesterday.
He said this approach would not only promote safer road practices but ultimately reduce claims, benefiting insurers.
“If we can make safety a national culture, it’s not just good for the public, it’s also beneficial for the insurance industry,” he said at the launch of Foodpanda Malaysia’s rider safety programme, Pandasafe.
“Fewer accidents mean fewer claims.”
The Pandasafe programme is a comprehensive and long-term safety initiative designed to protect and empower delivery partners through a structured ecosystem.
Under the initiative, Foodpanda will introduce rider training programmes that focus on, among others, safe riding techniques, road safety modules, first-aid training and first response procedures.
Loke urged insurance providers to offer incentives or discounts to riders who consistently adhered to safe riding habits, such as having no accident history, no summonses and positive behavioural assessments.
“The ministry is ready to work with industry players and insurers to explore this further. Perhaps we can come up with a system that identifies low-risk riders and recognises their efforts.”
He said some companies, like Foodpanda, had already implemented rider performance tracking systems that could serve as a foundation for such incentives.
Cultivating a culture of road safety, he added, must go beyond government enforcement and seasonal campaigns.
“Safety has to be part of everyday operations and embedded in the corporate DNA.”
Loke also urged delivery platforms not to impose strict penalties on riders for late deliveries caused by factors beyond their control.
“Sometimes it’s the weather, sometimes it’s heavy traffic. I hope that the public will also be more empathetic. Don’t lash out at riders when your food arrives late. Try to understand what they go through,” he added.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
![BTH: Influencers, rage bait content and the ethics of going viral [WATCH]](https://prwire.my/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BTH-Influencers-rage-bait-content-and-the-ethics-of-going-300x158.jpg)
