Enhancing workplace road safety for commercial and gig economy drivers in Australia

• ‘Opt-in’ workplace road safety culture is not effective. • Principles of workplace road safety must include values of diversity and inclusion. • Redefining gig platforms as network operators foregrounds safety. • Ratings and driver metrics should include measures of safety and well-being. • Gig worker training and education should be relevant, tailored, assessed, and compulsory. This study investigates workplace road safety cultures among (1) drivers of light commercial vehicles (i.e., drivers of vehicles <4.5 tonnes) and (2) gig economy workers (i.e., drivers and delivery riders working as independent contractors for platforms such as Uber and DoorDash), aiming to identify barriers and facilitators for enhancing safety and reducing work-related incidents. Twenty semi-structured interviews (ten participants from each group) were conducted online via Zoom, a sample size considered sufficient to reach thematic saturation and allow for comparative analysis across the two groups. A thematic analysis identified recurring concepts and ideas across all participant interviews. The findings reveal the limitations of an ’opt-in’ safety culture and underscore the need for a more proactive, universally embraced approach. Additionally, the study results highlight the importance of incorporating principles of diversity and inclusion into workplace road safety to address the varied experiences within the workforce. Redefining gig platforms as network operators is suggested to prioritise safety considerations and responsibilities. The inclusion of safety and well-being metrics in a customer’s ratings and driver assessments ensures a comprehensive evaluation of performance. The findings highlight opportunities for relevant, tailored, assessed, and compulsory training and education for gig workers to enhance safety practices in this evolving work landscape. These findings contribute to the discourse on workplace road safety, highlighting key opportunities for intervention and the need for evidence-based programmes to mitigate the growing risks associated with work-related driving in both traditional and gig economy settings.