In brief
A motorcycle courier's greatest risk is a traffic accident, and an accident during work counts as a workplace accident. Traffic legislation requires motorcyclists to wear a helmet, protective goggles if the helmet has no visor and, since a 2025 amendment, protective gloves; reflective clothing is required when riding at night. The employer's real sphere of influence, however, is time pressure, working hours, a rule for stopping in bad weather and motorcycle maintenance.
Where does the employer's responsibility for motorcycle courier safety begin?
Food orders, pharmacy deliveries, e-commerce parcels or company documents: the number of workers delivering by motorcycle in Bursa and neighbouring provinces grows every year. When motorcycle courier safety is discussed, most employers limit the issue to helmets; yet the courier's workplace is the road itself, and most of the risk arises from the working arrangements set by the employer.
Under Art. 13 of Law No. 5510, an accident caused by the work being carried out by the employer is a workplace accident even if it happens outside the workplace. A courier traffic accident during delivery therefore triggers the employer's obligations to record, investigate and notify. Art. 4 of Law No. 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety gives the employer the duty to assess all work-related risks and take measures; this assessment covers the road, weather conditions, delivery targets and the motorcycle itself.
This article is for businesses that employ couriers as their own workers: restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies, cargo and distribution companies.
Courier traffic accidents: risks and the employer's measures
The causes of traffic accidents are not only rider behaviour. The table below matches causes commonly seen in the field with measures in the employer's hands.
| Risk | How it appears in the field | Employer's measure |
|---|---|---|
| Time pressure | Short delivery time targets, bonus per delivery | Setting targets according to distance, traffic and weather; not penalising late deliveries; monitoring speed violations |
| Invisibility | Car drivers noticing the motorcycle late | Light-coloured and reflective clothing, headlights on during the day too |
| Phone use | Looking at the order app while riding | Fixed phone holder, a rule of not touching the screen while riding, voice navigation |
| Fatigue | Long shifts, busy hours with no chance of a break | Shift plan, rest breaks that can actually be taken |
| Motorcycle faults | Worn tyres, weak brakes, lamps not working | Daily checklist, maintenance record, faulty vehicles not taken out |
| Load | Heavy or unbalanced box | Securing the box, not exceeding box capacity |
| Road surface | Road markings, manhole covers, wet leaves in the rain | Covering it in training, a rule for stopping in bad weather |
Time pressure tops the list because it magnifies most of the other risks. A business that promises delivery "in so many minutes" places that promise on the courier's speed. Taking distance, time of day and weather into account when setting delivery targets is the most effective measure directly under the employer's control.
Courier helmet requirement and protective equipment
Traffic legislation makes certain protective equipment mandatory for motorcyclists. Art. 78 of Highway Traffic Law No. 2918, as amended in 2026 by Law No. 7574, requires the protective helmet and protective goggles to be used properly; those who do not use them properly are deemed not to have used them. A helmet with an unfastened chin strap therefore does not count as a helmet.
In terms of OHS legislation, this equipment is the courier's personal protective equipment and is provided by the employer; the cost of OHS measures cannot be passed on to workers (Law 6331 Art. 4). Courier protective equipment should not be limited to what is mandatory; the following items should be addressed together in the risk assessment:
| Equipment | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Helmet | Mandatory | ECE R 22 compliant, correct size, chin strap fastened; replaced after a fall or impact |
| Gloves | Mandatory | TS EN 13594 compliant; thermal in winter, ventilated in summer |
| Reflective clothing | Mandatory at night | Light colours preferred during the day as well |
| Protective jacket and trousers | Recommended | With shoulder, elbow and knee protectors; EN 17092 series |
| Motorcycle boots | Recommended | With ankle protection; EN 13634 |
| Rain gear and thermal layer | Recommended | Choose models with reflective strips |
For the general steps in choosing PPE, see our article on how to choose PPE. The 2026 basic administrative fine for not providing workers with suitable PPE is 8,980 TL per worker.
Weather conditions: rain, ice and heat
For a two-wheeled vehicle, weather conditions are far more decisive than for a car. In rain, braking distance increases and visibility falls; road markings and manhole covers become slippery. On ice, the motorcycle's balance can be lost with a single sudden brake. In Bursa, morning icing in the winter months and the sloping neighbourhoods spreading up the foothills of Uludağ should be assessed separately according to the route.
In hot weather, staying in the sun and inside a helmet for long periods increases fluid loss. Water, breaks in the shade and route planning around the hottest hours are among the first measures. For cold and wet weather clothing, see our article on protective clothing for cold and wet weather, and for the general winter preparation list, workplace safety in the winter months.
Courier working hours and fatigue
Fatigue directly affects attention and reaction time. Under Art. 63 of Labour Law No. 4857, weekly working time is at most 45 hours; when distributed differently, daily working time may not exceed 11 hours. Under Art. 68, rest breaks are as follows:
- 15 minutes for work of 4 hours or less,
- 30 minutes for work of more than 4 hours up to 7.5 hours,
- 1 hour for work of more than 7.5 hours.
The critical point for couriers is that the break can actually be taken. If orders continue to be assigned during the break, a break on paper is useless. The break status needs to be defined separately in the order system, and rest needs to be planned after busy hours. For businesses delivering at night, our article on working night shifts describes the additional rules.
Recruitment, training and after an accident
Driving licence: Art. 85 of the Highway Traffic Regulation allows holders of a class B licence to ride certain motorcycles with an A1 certificate; however, motorcycles used in any commercial activity are excluded from this. A person who will work as a courier must hold a class A1, A2 or A licence suitable for the motorcycle; check the licence class and its validity at recruitment.
Health: In the pre-employment examination, the workplace physician assesses the worker's fitness for motorcycle delivery work.
Training: Every courier receives at least 2 hours of face-to-face, practical induction training before starting work. This training should cover, in practice, the daily motorcycle check, correct use of the helmet and gloves, route rules, what to do in an accident and the bad weather rule. Basic training is completed within 3 months of starting work at the latest.
After an accident: The employer notifies the competent law enforcement authorities of the accident immediately and the SGK within 3 working days at the latest. For accidents occurring in places outside the employer's control, this period starts from the date the accident becomes known (Law 5510 Art. 13). For all the steps, see our article on what to do after a workplace accident.
Daily checklist
At the start of each shift, the courier carries out the following checks and hands in the signed list:
- Tyre pressure and tread depth are adequate, and there are no cuts in the tyres.
- Front and rear brakes work.
- Headlight, brake light and indicators work.
- Mirrors are in place and adjusted.
- Chain tension and lubrication are correct.
- The delivery box is sound and secure.
- The helmet is undamaged and the visor clean; gloves and reflective clothing are at hand.
- The phone holder is secure; the battery is sufficiently charged.
A motorcycle with a defect found in the check does not go out on delivery until it is fixed. Through its OHS specialist service, Bursa Sistemer OSGB includes routes, weather and time pressure in the risk assessment of businesses that carry out deliveries; for other risks specific to the logistics and warehousing sector, see our sector page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should buy the courier's helmet?
The helmet, gloves and reflective clothing are the courier's personal protective equipment and are provided by the employer. The cost of OHS measures cannot be passed on to workers.
Does a courier traffic accident count as a workplace accident?
Yes. An accident caused by the work being carried out by the employer is a workplace accident under Art. 13 of Law No. 5510, even if it happens on the road. The accident is notified to law enforcement immediately and to the SGK within 3 working days at the latest.
Should deliveries be stopped in the rain?
The legislation does not set a fixed threshold; the decision is made on the basis of the risk assessment. Setting a written rule that stops deliveries in conditions such as icing and snow and removes the delivery time target in heavy rain is the safest approach.
Can someone work as a courier with a class B driving licence?
Motorcycles that can be ridden with a class B licence and an A1 certificate cannot be used in commercial activity. A person who will work as a courier should hold a class A1, A2 or A licence suitable for the motorcycle.
A certified specialist matched to your hazard class: site inspections, approved logbook, training plan, annual plan and report follow-up.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.