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Japan orders school bus operators to install emergency safety device in vehicles

By on October 13, 2022

The Japanese government Wednesday has put in place safety measures to prevent children from being left behind inside a school bus unnoticed.

Last month, a 3-year-old girl died of heatstroke after being left behind on a school bus in Makinohara, Shizuoka Prefecture. In July last year, a similar fatal incident occurred in Nakama, Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

Starting April next year, a new mandatory rule requiring school bus operators to install emergency safety devices in each vehicle will be enforced, with a one year grace period. Non compliance will subject operators to suspended operations or other punishments.

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Guidelines on specifications of the required safety devices will be provided by the transport ministry by the end of 2022. Options being considered include a button at the rear end of the bus that sounds an alarm if not pressed after the engine stops. This would prompt staff to check on passengers. Another option is the use of sensors to detect any child left inside unnoticed.

Expected to affect the new rule are kindergartens, nursery schools, kodomoen facilities, schools for special needs education and day care centers for children with disabilities. The number of such facilities is estimated to be around 24,000, that run a total of 44,000 buses.

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