While e-commerce has made life extremely convenient for us to order virtually anything to be delivered directly to our homes, it has brought a growing army of vans and trucks into our neighborhoods, changing traffic patterns in ways that put motorists, cyclists and pedestrians at greater risk.
Our neighborhoods are seeing more trucks and vans from the likes of Amazon, FedEx, UPS, the U.S. Postal Service and gig-delivery drivers in personal vehicles, increasing the risk of accidents. This means that your family must exercise extra caution when these delivery vehicles are around.
A recent report from the New York City comptroller found that after last-mile delivery facilities opened:
- 78% of nearby areas saw more injury-causing crashes,
- Crash injuries within a half-mile radius rose by an average of 16%,
- Truck-related crashes jumped 146%, and
- Truck-injury crashes rose 137%.
While this study centered on New York City, its findings almost certainly reflect similar trends in other cities such as Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, where dense neighborhoods meet growing delivery demands.
Seasonal spikes further magnify the problem. During peak shopping periods, like the December holidays, companies hire thousands of temporary and gig drivers, many using personal vehicles and rushing to meet tight delivery quotas.
The result is hurried driving by inexperienced delivery drivers in areas full of pedestrians, cyclists and children.
Why trucks are so dangerousÂ
Light trucks, including delivery vans and many SUVs, are larger, heavier and taller than passenger cars. According to national traffic research, about 40% of pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. involve collisions with light trucks.
Their height and blunt front-end profile tend to strike a pedestrian’s torso or head rather than the legs, leading to far more severe injuries.
At the same time, pedestrian fatalities have climbed significantly in the past decade, even though vehicle safety features have improved. Larger vehicles and increasing numbers of them are key factors in that increase.
How this plays out on your street
For everyday motorists, the surge in home deliveries shows up in familiar ways:
- Trucks and vans double-parking or blocking bike lanes
- Drivers stopping midblock and then suddenly pulling out
- Delivery vehicles edging into crosswalks
- Gig drivers staring at navigation apps while hunting for building numbers
- Inexperienced seasonal drivers unfamiliar with route geography
Each of these behaviors reduces road predictability, forcing motorists and pedestrians to make snap decisions around larger vehicles with limited visibility.
To protect yourself, adjust how you drive around delivery trucks by:
- Slowing down when approaching a stopped truck or van.
- Easing around a parked truck carefully rather than squeezing past at normal speed or darting around it.
- Assuming trucks may back up or swing wide without warning.
- Being cautious at driveways and alleys, where trucks have large blind spots.
Teach your kids to stay safe
Children are especially vulnerable because they are shorter and often invisible behind large vehicles. Safety experts recommend:
- Making a designated “safe spot” on the sidewalk where kids must stand when vehicles pass by.
- Teaching kids never to walk behind delivery trucks or vans.
- Teaching them to wait until the vehicle has left before playing again.
- Holding hands with younger children around parked or moving vehicles.
The bottom line
E-commerce is not going away, and neither are the vehicles that bring online orders to your door.
When they are present, exercise caution and pass them slowly when they are parked outside a building or home. Teach your children to be especially careful around these large vehicles and to stay on the sidewalk when they’re near.