PEOPLE have been warned of a new delivery driver scam, with councillors calling on riders to wear identification cards while on duty.
This follows reports of a spate of thefts involving unidentified persons wearing uniforms, riding motorbikes and claiming to be delivery riders.
The Southern Municipal Council also alleges that several drivers have been seen gathering in residential areas, spreading fear in the community.
The council has now referred an urgent proposal to the Cabinet, urging it to order all drivers to wear identity badges.
These can also help identify drivers during hit-and-run accidents.
There has been an exponential growth in home deliveries in the past couple of years, with shops and supermarkets joining restaurants and cafés in delivering anything from food to groceries, clothes, books, toys and even flowers.
The same council earlier this week proposed a blanket ban on the use of motorbikes and old cars for home deliveries.
“Ministers, under-secretaries and senior government officials all wear identity badges even though they are known to all their colleagues,” said the council’s services and public utilities committee chairman Abdulla Abdullatif, who is spearheading the proposal.
“But here we have a situation where scores of delivery drivers are roaming around residential neighbourhoods throughout the day; it’s so easy for someone to wear a
uniform and indulge in illegal activities.
“There have been instances when imposters wearing uniforms have been known to smuggle narcotics and other banned substances without raising suspicion.
“Recently, we received complaints that a group of riders posing as delivery drivers were seen in a neighbourhood, followed by reports of thefts in the same week.”
The GDN reported in June that delivery riders could be banned from a number of roads and only allowed to offer their services between specific timings each day.
Northern Municipal Council chairman Ahmed Al Kooheji called for signboards to be erected on ‘inner roads’ banning entry to delivery bikers.
Bahrain’s municipal councils and the Capital Trustees Board would identify the no-entry zones after discussions with residents and relevant authorities.
Improper
The GDN reported in May 2019 that a proposal to ban delivery motorbikes from Bahrain’s major highways had been approved by the Northern Municipal Council.
The Traffic Directorate, however, replied at the time that it was more a case of improper conduct of some riders being addressed, rather than introducing an arbitrary ban on highways.
The time-saving tricks motorcyclists use to get their hot plates to their destinations have long been a bane of the authorities with enraged legislators and councillors demanding tougher penalties, including jail time, to deter them.
Traffic authorities have installed speed cameras on major highways and increased fines for violators.
In January last year, the Traffic Directorate revealed that 3,885 violations were issued to delivery service riders and 364 motorcycles were impounded.
Violations included jumping red traffic lights, exceeding speed limits, driving on pavements, overtaking and using mobile phones while riding.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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