Introduction

Motorcycle delivery riders have emerged as a significant social working group within Pakistan’s gig economy. These riders play an essential role in ensuring community convenience and supporting local economies. Ensuring their occupational safety is critical as it contributes to broader urban social equity and resilience. However, workers are vulnerable to occupational hazards such as traffic accidents.

Objectives:

This study assesses the compliance of motorcycle delivery riders with Pakistan’s helmet usage law, i.e., PMVO 1969, 89-A, as well as to the International Labour Organization’s recommended limit of 8 working hours per day.

Methods

A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted among delivery riders working in Islamabad, Pakistan, by using convenience sampling. A structured questionnaire was designed to collect information on participants' demographics, as well as information on helmet usage, working hours, fatigue, and accident involvement. Descriptive statistics such as mean + standard deviation, as well as frequence and percentages, were reported using SPSS version 20.

Results

Based on our findings, only 38% of the participants wore a helmet while driving a motor bike by following Pakistan’s helmet usage law, i.e., PMVO 1969, 89-A. The mean daily working duration was 9.1 ± 3.6 hours per day, which exceeded the International Labour Organization’s recommended limit of 8 working hours per day. About 36% of respondents experienced at least one road accident. A high proportion, i.e., 35% of the respondents, reported frequent fatigue, reflecting the physical and mental strain associated with their demanding work schedules.

Conclusion

These findings highlight key areas of concern, i.e., poor helmet compliance, extended working hours, and fatigue, may increase the risk of road traffic accidents among riders. Our results emphasize the need for stricter implementation for fostering urban social equity and building resilient city systems.