Thank you for addressing this issue at last. Our boxes was approved by your officers back in 2021 when we launched our cake delivery service in Abuja. Our boxes are not made with metals but with fiber which ensures the safety of both our dispatchers and the cakes we transport.
FCT Road Transport Regulations 2023 adequately provides for regulations of the use motorcycle for delivery of small parcels and packages.
While these regulations do not aim to oversee delivery services as a business, they focus on ensuring road traffic safety, effective traffic management, and maintaining city aesthetics by regulating the use of motorcycles for delivery services.
To this end, the regulation focuses its attention on the motorcycles, the accessories requirements, and the rider of the motorcycles. For stability and for capacity to cover appreciable long distance, the motorcycle capacity is set at 200cc minimum while the delivery box is recommended to be the standard size with maximum dimension of L20xW18xH23 inches which is prevalent and locally manufactured in Nigeria.
The regulation foresaw the probable temptation of operators to want to use larger boxes to achieve more deliveries per trip by carrying more items in one big box, delivery of a wider range of products including bulkier items that wouldn't fit in standard-sized boxes, hence the introduction of preregistration inspection. This inspection ensures that no motorcycle is equipped with a box exceeding the standard size before it is approved for registration.
It should also be noted that the regulation recognizes the need for specialized boxes for food delivery and medical related services. However, the designs are not allowed to be outside the standard L20xW18xH23 in dimension.
The regulation strictly recommends the use of standard-sized boxes because using oversize boxes on delivery motorcycles hasseveral effects that jeopardize the safety of the rider and other road users. Oversize boxes compromise a motorcycle's balance, making it harder for riders to maneuver, especially at higher speeds or in windy conditions. Larger boxes increase wind resistance, which can destabilize the motorcycle, posing risks to both the rider and other road users. Oversize boxes can obstruct the rider's view, making it difficult to see behind and increasethe risk of accidents.
It has been established that using larger boxes increases the tendency to carry heavier loads which puts additional strain on the motorcycle's engine, suspension, and tires, potentially raising the likelihood of mechanical failures and road crashes.Also, the increased physical effort required to control a motorcycle with an oversize box can lead to faster rider fatigue and reduced comfort due to changes in the motorcycleโs dynamics.
The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) strictly enforces the use of standard-sized boxes due to the significant safety risks posed by oversize boxes. By adhering to these regulations, the safety of riders and other road users is prioritized, ensuring a safer and more efficient delivery system within the city.
@OfficialFCTA@FCT_DRTS@GovWike@IretiKingibe@Hajiya_Ireti_SG@DrDorisAnite@NGRPresident@PoliceNG@yummiedrop