Private Academies and Alternative Schools Also Subject to 'Children's School Bus' Rules... Strengthened Management and Supervision Regulations

Significant Expansion from 6 to 18 Types of Facilities
Revised Road Traffic Act Enforced Today

Children's school bus.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The scope of educational facilities subject to regulations for children's school buses will be significantly expanded.

The National Police Agency announced that it will enforce the revised Road Traffic Act, which includes these changes, starting from the 27th to eliminate blind spots in the safety management of children's school buses.

According to this revision, the educational facilities to which the Road Traffic Act related to children's school buses applies have increased from the existing six types?kindergartens, elementary schools, special schools, daycare centers, private academies, and sports facilities?to 18 types, adding alternative schools, foreign schools, private tutoring centers, public libraries, and social welfare facilities.

Detailed regulations to ensure school bus safety have also been revised. First, the subjects of school bus safety education have been expanded from facility operators and managers to newly include accompanying guardians, and re-education every two years has been made mandatory.

Additionally, when driving with a guardian on board, a "Guardian Accompanying Sticker" must be attached, and school bus operators are required to prepare safety operation records and submit them to the head of the supervising authority.

If a school bus violates related obligations and causes child casualties, the relevant information must be disclosed, and operating a school bus without meeting the reporting requirements may result in penalties.

A National Police Agency official stated, "We have improved issues such as facilities frequently used by children not being included in the scope of children's school bus regulations," and added, "To protect children's lives, we will continue to promote school bus safety inspections in cooperation with related ministries."