Gyeonggi-do Aims to 'Break the Chain of Bus Traffic Accidents'... Targeting Zero Deaths

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Gyeonggi Province plans to break the cycle of accidents by imposing strong administrative measures and reducing various support benefits for bus companies that cause serious traffic accidents.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 29th that it will assign grades from A to E to bus companies and conduct focused management such as special training and regular inspections for companies with low safety grades (D to E) in service safety evaluations.

According to the province, incentives and financial support for companies with low safety grades will be cut by more than 50%, and changes to business plans such as new route establishment or additional buses will be restricted. Furthermore, strong measures will be taken, including disadvantages for new limited-license operators when public bus tenders are held.

In response, the province plans to promote various projects in areas such as strengthening bus company responsibility, facility improvements, inspections and training, and system improvements, aiming to reduce the number of deaths caused by bus traffic accidents to zero by 2025.

In particular, management and supervision will be strengthened through self-inspections and random spot checks of safety devices installed on vehicles and inside buses, such as door opening and closing sensors, use of retreaded tires, seat belts, fire extinguishers, passenger escape safety hammers, emergency automatic braking devices, and onboard CCTV.

Additionally, about 4.6 billion won will be spent this year to support the installation of various safety devices such as emergency automatic braking devices, door CCTV cameras, and driver monitors on intercity, metropolitan, and regular buses in the province. A brainwave-based driver condition monitoring system will also be introduced on a pilot basis starting this year.

The province will continuously inspect bus companies' compliance with the Labor Standards Act, strengthen sanctions against violators, check monthly rest time guarantees for transportation workers, and impose administrative measures on violating companies to improve labor conditions for transportation workers.

The province plans to propose to the government an amendment to the Passenger Transport Service Act to require bus drivers to confirm passengers are seated and have completed disembarking before departing, and to shorten the inspection cycle for elderly drivers through precise driving tests.

Other measures include designating and operating 'Traffic Safety Officers' for each bus company and strengthening driver accident prevention education (such as on-site training and traffic safety experience education).

Earlier, on the 19th in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, police are investigating the cause and responsibility of an incident where a passenger who was getting off a bus got their clothing caught in the rear door, fell, and was crushed by the bus, resulting in death.

Park Tae-hwan, Director of the Transportation Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "We will thoroughly inspect and supervise bus companies to ensure that such unfortunate incidents never happen again," and added, "We will impose strong penalties on companies that cannot guarantee even the minimum safety of passengers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.