Is the “Convenience Economy” Worth the Pain It Can Inflict?

“We live in a world where every conceivable product or service is instantly accessible.”

Jennifer Davies was a normal woman living an ordinary life in Brighton, on England’s South Coast. The 69-year-old was a recently retired nurse. A devoted mother, she dedicated much of her newfound free time to the health and well-being of her two adult children, Oli and Nancy. She decided to send them a care package to cheer them up during lockdown. On May 21, 2020, Jennifer packed up copies of the 2018 Delia Owens novel Where the Crawdads Sing, along with personal letters addressed to each of them, and headed to the post office.

She never did find out if they liked the book. As she stepped off a roundabout in Brighton, Jennifer was hit by a van being driven by a delivery driver.

The driver, Kamil Zieba, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison. Dashcam footage showed him using a mobile phone, rolling cigarettes, and eating and drinking while driving. Prior to the incident, he was driving a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van recklessly, mounting sidewalks and curbs. It was later found that he did not have proper insurance. Jennifer was so badly injured that her son did not recognize her when he visited the hospital. She died two days later.

The fate that befell Davies could have been avoided if Zieba had been careful. It was appropriate for him to take personal responsibility. His reckless actions—his son was also in the van at the time of the accident— claimed the life of an innocent woman. However, according to evidence heard in Hove Crown Court, the courier was incentivized by the rigorous demands of the job.