Volta Delivery Couriers' Reckless Riding Sparks Public Outcry and Legal Threats
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
A severe accident involving a Volta delivery courier has highlighted widespread concerns about reckless riding by the company's couriers in Israel. Roi Even-Tov was critically injured in February after being hit by a courier, leading to a stalled police investigation. Friends and authorities accuse Volta of evading responsibility, while the National Road Safety Authority has demanded an action plan within a month or faces legal action. The company maintains it is a technological platform, but regulators argue it bears responsibility for courier conduct, citing a rise in dangerous incidents and fatalities.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Roi Even-Tov was critically injured by a Volta delivery courier in Tel Aviv, sparking outrage over reckless riding.
- The National Road Safety Authority has demanded Volta present an action plan within a month or face legal action.
- Friends of the victim believe the courier was distracted and that Volta has evaded responsibility for the incident.
- The NRSA reports approximately 40 monthly calls to police identifying Volta couriers as a public hazard.
- Concerns are raised about the rampant practice of renting out Volta accounts without proper oversight.
- There has been a significant increase in fatalities involving electric scooters and bikes nationwide.
Roi Even-Tov, a 56-year-old father of two and a respected creative director, remains in rehabilitation at Sheba Hospital seven months after being critically injured by a Volta delivery courier. Even-Tov was struck by a courier on Ben Yehuda Street in Tel Aviv while crossing as a pedestrian in broad daylight. Security footage showed he had waited before entering the road. The courier, who was riding in a public transport lane, collided with Even-Tov, causing a severe head injury and brain hemorrhage. He spent months in intensive care before being transferred to rehabilitation.
The 18-year-old courier's license was suspended for two months, but the investigation has stalled as Even-Tov is unable to testify. Friends of Even-Tov believe the courier was distracted by his phone and that Volta has evaded responsibility, refusing to provide trip logs that could clarify the courier's actions at the time of the accident. The courier and Volta have not contacted Even-Tov's family.
Complaints about Volta couriers riding recklessly, often on sidewalks and at high speeds, are widespread. The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) reports approximately 40 monthly calls to the police hotline identifying Volta couriers as a public hazard. Following a consistent rise in such reports over the past three years, the NRSA chairman has demanded Volta present an action plan within a month to curb dangerous riding, threatening legal action otherwise.
Volta, in response, stated that user safety is a top priority and that they operate as a technological platform connecting consumers, businesses, and couriers. However, the NRSA CEO countered that Volta organizes, manages, and incentivizes courier activity, thus bearing responsibility for public safety. The NRSA is demanding concrete measures from Volta, including driver training, vehicle checks, and the implementation of virtual geofencing to mark pedestrian areas. Failure to comply could lead to legal proceedings to establish an employer-employee relationship and vicarious liability.
Despite Volta's claims of safety initiatives, including online training and identity verification, veteran couriers report never being invited to training sessions and highlight that incentives encourage speed over safety. Concerns are also raised about the rampant practice of renting out Volta accounts, with no oversight to verify who is actually performing deliveries, potentially leaving individuals uninsured in case of accidents. The article also notes a significant increase in fatalities involving electric scooters and bikes nationwide, with limited enforcement by police and local authorities, though national and municipal programs are being launched to address the issue.