Every year, not a few children and infants fall victim to accidents by being left behind on a school bus without any guidance of a driver and teacher in charge. Most of the developed countries have made it mandatory to install in school buses for children a device to prevent an accident of leaving children behind without care therein, such as the “Sleeping Child Check,” which does not allow a motor to turn off if the device is not operated to check whether children have alighted from the school buses, thereby making sure that drivers can confirm all children’s safe alighting from the school buses.

In Korea, however, there are growing concerns among parents over the reality that there is no other way than depending on a drivers’ full attention as a measure to prevent an accident of leaving children behind without care in the school buses. In response, the installation of a safety device is needed.

Accordingly, this Amendment aims to obligate operators of school buses for children to install a device to check whether children have boarded or alighted therefrom and to check their location by using the latest information and communication technologies (ICT) such as a short-range wireless communication technology system (Beacon), and to require state and local governments to bear all or part of the necessary expenses, thereby enhancing traffic safety for children and infants (Article 53).

Operators of school buses for children shall install in school buses for children a device to check whether children have boarded or alighted from the school buses for children prescribed by Presidential Decree (Article 53, paragraph 5)