Intensification of app-baseddeliveries and the frequency ofmotorcycle accidents in the SãoPaulo metropolitan region

https://doi.org/10.63923/smhs.2026.134

Abstract

Abstract
The expansion of platform-mediated work has reshaped labor relations and urban mobility dynamics, particularly in the motorcycle delivery sector. In this context, the present
study analyzes the association between the intensification of app-based delivery activity
and the incidence of motorcycle accidents in the city of São Paulo. This is an observational, ecological, longitudinal time-series study covering the period from 2015 to 2025.
Secondary public-domain data were used, including information on traffic accidents
(DETRAN), population (IBGE), and the motorcycle fleet (SENATRAN) in the city of São
Paulo, in addition to delivery volume data obtained from institutional and media sources
to construct an index of activity intensification in the region. Generalized Linear Models
(GLM) were applied to estimate the effect of the activity intensification index on motorcycle accidents in São Paulo. An increasing trend in delivery activity intensification was
observed, accompanied by a rise in both the absolute number and the proportion of motorcycle-related accidents. The intensification of delivery activity showed a significant
positive correlation with the total number of accidents (Rho = 0.736; p = 0.013) and with
the percentage of accidents (Rho = 0.991; p < 0.001). In the model adjusted for the city’s total population, the association with the number of accidents remained statistically
significant (p = 0.021). These findings indicate that the expansion of platform-mediated
work is associated with an increased incidence of motorcycle accidents, possibly due to
greater occupational risk exposure, prolonged working hours, and productivity pressures. It is concluded that the growth of this work modality constitutes a relevant factor in
the dynamics of urban traffic accidents, with implications for road safety policies and
occupational health.

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