Abstract

The rapid expansion of platform-based delivery services has increased the number of motorcycle and bicycle couriers operating under intensive time pressure and uncertain working conditions. Courier fatalities have become a growing occupational safety and public health concern in many countries, including Türkiye. This study examines courier fatalities through a media content analysis approach, focusing on traffic risks, injury mechanisms, occupational conditions, and social impacts. Media reports published on courier fatalities were analyzed together with international research on motorcycle safety, occupational health, and the gig economy. The findings indicate that courier fatalities are not solely the result of individual riding behaviour or unexpected traffic incidents. Instead, they emerge from the interaction between severe injury mechanisms, risky traffic environments, inadequate infrastructure, and work-related pressures such as delivery deadlines and extended working hours. The analysis shows that media coverage frequently emphasizes individual accidents while less frequently addressing structural factors behind fatalities. Reported cases also reveal broader social consequences, including family hardship, demands for legal accountability, and public discussions regarding the responsibilities of digital labour platforms. The study argues that courier fatalities should be considered a systemic occupational safety issue requiring integrated interventions in traffic regulation, workplace protection, infrastructure design, and platform governance.

Keywords: Courier fatalities; Motorcycle safety; Media content analysis; Occupational health; Gig economy; Traffic safety