Since 2015, Amazon delivery drivers have killed more than a dozen people. Thousands of other drivers have been involved in Amazon-related crashes resulting in serious injuries. What’s the reason for this? It’s could be because Amazon drivers are overworked.
Unreasonable Expectations
Amazon prides itself on delivering packages exactly on time. If the email confirmation says it will get there at 2:30 PM the next day, we’ve come to expect the “Your Package Has Been Delivered!” email by 2:29 PM. That’s no mistake. On average, Amazon delivery drivers are expected to deliver a package every two minutes.
The intense pressure these drivers face leaves little room for error. A line at the gas station or even a pedestrian crossing can throw off their schedule, resulting in reprimands from higher-ups. Generally, any business carrying Amazon packages is expected to make 999/1,000 deliveries precisely on schedule.
As a result, Amazon drivers are encouraged to drive recklessly and skip their legally mandated breaks to make quotas. Many drivers are denied lunch breaks and overtime, putting them at increased risk of fatigue. This, in turn, makes them more likely to cause a fatal accident.
Employees and Contractors
While many organizations (including UPS and USPS) feel the pressure of delivering Amazon packages on time, the real issue lies with contracted drivers. After all, UPS and USPS delivery personnel are trained drivers using top-of-the-line GPS technology.
Sub-contractors drive the majority of Amazon’s fleet of 30,000 delivery vans. Many of them use Rabbit, a GPS known to cause more accidents than the UPS counterpart. Additionally, those contractors typically don’t answer to Amazon directly, but rather to a smaller delivery company. Typically, small delivery companies subject unprepared drivers to the high-expectations of driving for Amazon without the training or financial protections afforded by working for the company directly.
These accidents are largely avoidable. If sub-contracted drivers had more leniency in their schedules, they’d be less likely to drive recklessly and end up fatigued. Similarly, if they had superior GPS technology, they might get into fewer accidents. Or perhaps these contractors just need better training, on par with that of other delivery companies. Whatever the case, Amazon’s contracted drivers are putting everyone else at risk.
If you or someone you love suffered severe injuries or even wrongful death in a delivery accident, we can help you get serious. If you’d like an experienced Gulfport auto accident attorney from Gulf South Law Firm to evaluate your case, please send us an email or call (228) 231-3989.