Bengaluru traffic police booked over 17,000 cases against delivery agents in just seven days

In an intensified drive to enforce road safety, the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) registered a staggering 17,218 cases against e-commerce and food delivery agents within a week.

The violations ranged from riding without helmets and wrong-side driving to entering restricted zones and jumping traffic signals. 

The crackdown began following rising concerns about safety risks posed by delivery agents rushing to meet tight deadlines.

Bengaluru’s sprawling metropolitan area, spanning over 8,000 square kilometers, is monitored by a specialized traffic police force equipped with advanced surveillance tools, including interceptor vehicles, speed guns, and cameras at 180 intersections.

Major violations

Major traffic violations among Bengaluru's e-commerce and food delivery agents included a significant number of helmetless riding cases, with over 2,300 delivery partners fined for not wearing helmets, along with additional penalties for pillion riders.

Violations also involved 472 instances of entering restricted no-entry zones, while numerous agents were penalized for signal jumping and driving against the flow of traffic.

On November 11, the police recorded the highest single-day total of 5,979 cases, resulting in Rs 30.57 lakh in fines. Another day saw 4,293 violations contributing Rs 22.13 lakh to the fines collected.

Root causes: Pressure and misconceptions

Police cited unrealistic delivery deadlines as a significant factor behind the violations. Many delivery agents face penalties for late deliveries, including having the cost of “free” packages deducted from their pay.

Additionally, misconceptions among delivery agents contribute to violations. Many believe that operating on footpaths or ignoring standard road rules does not fall under the Motor Vehicles Act.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M.N. Anucheth emphasized, “Delivery agents are not exempt from traffic laws.

Riding on footpaths and wrong-side driving are clear violations.” He added that one e-commerce platform has begun cooperating by providing rule refresher training for its delivery personnel.

Industry and police collaboration

The Bengaluru Traffic Police held several meetings with e-commerce and food delivery companies to address the growing problem. The discussions aimed to balance timely service deliveries with adherence to traffic laws. “Our goal is not just to penalize but to ensure safety for all road users,” a senior officer remarked.

Delivery agents’ representatives have urged companies to implement realistic delivery schedules that consider Bengaluru’s heavy traffic conditions. They argued that safer roads and fair expectations benefit both workers and the community.