When making deliveries in the rain, what tends to cause the most panic isn’t the rain itself, but that moment when you’re “nearing the pickup or drop-off location and suddenly encounter a lane marking, standing water, or a curve.” Delivery times can be negotiated, but a sudden hard stop on a slippery road can’t always be undone. This article breaks down three common spots where you’ll need to slow down during a delivery, giving you a clear order to follow when you need to take it easy.
Slow down before entering the danger zone.
The Ministry of Transportation’s 168 Traffic Safety Portal reminds riders that on rainy days, road surface friction decreases, resulting in longer braking distances. If you cross a crosswalk or lane marking while braking, the friction provided by the road markings may be lower, which could cause your wheels to lock up and result in a fall. Therefore, when delivery riders see a crosswalk, stop line, curve, or standing water ahead, the key is not to wait until they’ve entered that short section to react, but to ease off the throttle early, maintain a safe following distance, and reduce speed on relatively stable road surfaces.
First speed reduction point: before the lane marking
When delivering food, you’ll often encounter crosswalks at intersections, community entrances, or in front of stores. If you need to stop or turn, slow down significantly before reaching the crosswalk; when crossing the crosswalk, maintain smooth control and avoid slamming on the brakes all the way. This isn’t about delivery riders rushing through; rather, it’s about minimizing the overlap between braking and low-friction road surfaces. If traffic ahead changes suddenly, prioritize maintaining vehicle stability and creating space, rather than forcing your way up to the stop line only to slam on the brakes.
Second deceleration point: Before the puddle
One of the functions of tire treads is to disperse standing water on the road; when the tread wears down to the wear indicator, its water-dispersion capability is compromised. According to data from the Ministry of Transportation, even shallow standing water can cause tires to be unable to disperse water quickly enough at high speeds, leading to hydroplaning and a loss of traction. Before heading out, check whether the tread has reached the wear indicators and whether the tire pressure meets the values recommended in the owner’s manual or by the manufacturer. When approaching standing water, slow down first and maintain a steady direction; avoid accelerating, braking suddenly, or making sharp turns while driving through the water.
Third deceleration point: Before entering the turn
At the entrances to alleys, underground parking garages, and community corners along delivery routes, drivers often need to turn within a limited distance. The Ministry of Transportation’s Defensive Driving Guidelines recommend slowing down to a safe speed before entering a turn and avoiding braking while navigating the curve as much as possible. In rainy conditions, it’s even more important to do this a little earlier: check to see if there are pedestrians, vehicles, or slippery road surfaces around the bend, and then proceed at a speed you can comfortably control. If the rain is heavy enough to obscure your view of the road ahead or the lane markings, pull over to a safe spot; do not continue driving recklessly just to complete an order.
Make "Take it slow" a standard part of the order-taking process
You can allow a small buffer before each rainy-day order begins to account for the following situations:
- Before approaching the store or delivery address, check the last intersection for any lane markings, curves, or standing water.
- When you need to brake, slow down early and smoothly to avoid having to brake right at a lane marking, on wet pavement, or in the middle of a curve.
- On rainy days, turn on your headlights and make sure your taillights are working properly so that other road users can more easily see where you are.
- If oncoming or same-direction vehicles might splash water, proactively maintain a safe distance to allow your vision to clear.
- If there is a potential delay in picking up or delivering an order, prioritize stopping safely first, and then use the platform’s built-in features to contact the customer or update them on the status.
In addition to delivery times, there are also controllable security options
On rainy days, delivery riders don’t have to “grin and bear it” to complete every order. Slowing down early, using the brakes only on stable surfaces, and using poor visibility as a reason to stop are all risk management strategies that delivery riders can implement immediately. The estimated time displayed on the platform is merely a guideline; when actual road conditions make riding unsafe, safety should take priority over rushing to the next stop.
Sources and Verification
- Ministry of Transportation 168 Traffic Safety Portal | Motorcycle Defensive Driving Guidelines(Date of verification: October 4, 2026)
- Ministry of Transportation 168 Traffic Safety Portal | "Danger" Lies in the Details—Motorcycles Edition(Date of verification: October 4, 2026)
- Ministry of Transportation 168 Traffic Safety Portal | Safety Guidelines for Driving in the Rain (109)(Date of verification: October 4, 2026)
