Gyeonggi-do Conducts Emergency Safety Inspections on 504 Jeonse Bus Companies

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is set to conduct safety inspections on charter buses within the province.

Gyeonggi Province announced that from March 24 to April 17, it will carry out a "Joint Safety Management Inspection of Charter Buses" targeting 504 charter bus companies registered in the province.

This inspection is being promoted ahead of the spring season, when the number of excursionists and visitors to ancestral graves increases, to encourage safe operation of charter buses through thorough inspection activities.

The inspection will be conducted by forming a "Joint Inspection Team" together with city and county authorities, the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, the Gyeonggi Province Charter Bus Transport Business Association, and local police stations. The team will visit company main offices, garages, highway rest areas, and recreational spots on-site.

The inspection targets 504 charter bus companies registered across 28 cities and counties within the province.

The inspection team will focus on safety measures to prevent major traffic accidents, such as checking for drunk driving, driver qualification status, operation of speed limiters and tachographs, installation of seat belts, fire extinguishers, and emergency escape hammers.

Additionally, they will check for the installation of lane departure warning devices introduced to prevent major accidents, the accuracy and attachment of operation record certificates, compliance with business plans, and adherence to driver and traffic accident management regulations.

Furthermore, campaigns will be conducted to promote compliance with safety rules to prevent traffic accidents, including wearing seat belts in all seats while driving, prohibition of singing and dancing inside the vehicle, formation driving, and banning mobile phone use, along with guidance for safe driving.

The province plans to take immediate corrective actions and recommend improvements on-site for issues that can be rectified based on inspection results, and will issue inspection orders if risk factors are found. Administrative measures such as fines will be imposed for violations.

A provincial official stated, "According to last year's analysis of charter bus accident causes, more than half were due to drivers' lack of safety awareness and violations of safe driving obligations, so thorough management of vehicles and drivers is necessary," adding, "We will actively strive to create a safe environment for charter bus use through this joint inspection."