Extending Route Bus Service Life Requires Caution, Considering Public Safety and Transit Service Quality

A partial amendment to the Passenger Transport Service Act to extend the service life of route buses is currently pending in the National Assembly. The bill would expand the allowable extension of vehicle age from the current 2 years to 5 years, and up to 7 years for environmentally friendly vehicles.

If the bill passes, ordinary route buses that meet certain conditions could be operated for up to 16 years. As grounds for the proposal, the bill cites changing conditions such as advances in automobile manufacturing technology and improved road conditions.

However, it is questionable whether extending vehicle age truly aligns with the fundamental goals of protecting public safety and improving the quality of public transportation services.

If the bill to extend vehicle age passes, most route bus operators will likely keep their buses in service up to the maximum limit. As a result, the public will, on average, end up using older and more deteriorated route buses.

There are also concerns about safety. According to opinions from the industry and relevant ministries, most route buses currently in operation were manufactured on the basis of 11 years of service. If a uniform extension of vehicle age is applied, enormous costs will be required for repairing and replacing parts that have exceeded their service life.

In addition, buses released before 2018 were not required to be equipped with safety devices to prevent drowsy driving and fire damage, which could also become a burden from the standpoint of traffic safety. Environmentally friendly buses have durability inferior to that of internal combustion engine vehicles, raising even greater safety concerns.

While extending vehicle age may provide temporary benefits to route bus companies, consumers will lose their right to ride safer buses, and small and medium-sized parts manufacturers and workers in the bus industry will face threats to their survival. For the continued provision of high-quality public transportation services and the guarantee of traffic safety, it is desirable to reconsider the bill on extending vehicle age currently pending in the National Assembly. The National Assembly should deliberate on amending the law more carefully and with a broader range of alternatives.

2024. 1. 16.

Center for Free Enterprise (CFE)

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Original title: 노선버스 차령 연장, 국민 안전 및 대중교통 서비스 질 고려해 신중해야

Author: Center for Free Enterprise (CFE)

Date: 2024-01-24

Source: https://www.cfe.org/bbs/bbsDetail.php?cid=comment&pn=2&idx=26413