Ministry of Transportation Announces Draft “Delivery Personnel Traffic Safety Management Regulations” – Regular Safety Training Required, Members Can Cancel Contracts Within 7 Days

To enhance traffic safety for delivery personnel and strengthen consumer rights when using food delivery platforms, Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation announced today (20th) the draft of two regulations: the 'Delivery Personnel Traffic Safety Management Regulations' and the 'Standardized Contract Terms for Delivery Platform Services – Required and Prohibited Clauses'. These drafts establish rules regarding traffic safety management for delivery workers and allow consumers to cancel membership subscriptions within seven days of signing up. The goal is to strengthen platform safety management through legal frameworks, improve transaction transparency, and reduce consumer disputes.

The Ministry stated that the 'Delivery Personnel Traffic Safety Management Regulations' will be formulated in accordance with the Delivery Personnel Rights Protection and Delivery Platform Management Act. Operators must provide traffic safety education for new and current delivery personnel, along with regular refresher training, to continuously reinforce safe driving awareness. For delivery personnel exhibiting behaviors that significantly impact traffic safety, safety delivery workshops must be conducted. Dispatch instructions from platforms must comply with traffic laws, and system notifications must not interfere with navigation or the identification of work-related information, preventing delivery personnel from tapping or responding while in motion, thereby reducing traffic accident risks and maintaining road order.

The Ministry explained that the 'Standardized Contract Terms for Delivery Platform Services – Required and Prohibited Clauses' is established under the Delivery Personnel Rights Protection and Delivery Platform Management Act and the Consumer Protection Act, focusing on enhancing transaction transparency and ensuring fair and reasonable contracts. The draft clearly stipulates that consumers may cancel their membership subscription within seven days of initial sign-up. Automatic renewals require explicit consumer consent and must include renewal reminders and refund mechanisms.

Platforms must clearly disclose cancellation and refund conditions, defect handling procedures, and fully reveal product details and cost breakdowns. Any fees not explicitly listed must be borne by the platform operator. Platforms must also provide estimated delivery times; if delivery is delayed beyond a reasonable period, consumers may cancel their orders and receive appropriate compensation. Risks arising from system failures or partner merchants must not be transferred to consumers.

The Ministry noted that these two draft regulations were developed by the Highway Bureau after consultations with consumer protection groups, delivery platform operators, and delivery worker unions. Public announcements have been made in accordance with legal procedures to solicit broad feedback. The 'Delivery Personnel Traffic Safety Management Regulations' will be revised and implemented promptly after the public comment period. The 'Standardized Contract Terms' will be submitted to the Executive Yuan for approval after revisions and public consultation, before being officially announced and enforced.

The Ministry urges delivery platform operators to prioritize delivery personnel traffic safety as a core management responsibility, fully implement traffic safety management and training, and fulfill corporate management duties. At the same time, operators must ensure transaction transparency in compliance with the Consumer Protection Act, guarantee fair and reasonable contract terms, and establish convenient customer service and complaint mechanisms to jointly safeguard consumer rights and build a more transparent, safe, and user-friendly delivery service environment.