Abstract
Following the fatal incident in 2022 in Makinohara City, Shizuoka Prefecture, where a child was left unattended and died on a kindergarten shuttle bus, the thorough confirmation of children's whereabouts and the mandatory installation of safety devices became effective in April 2023. As a result, the safety of shuttle buses is believed to have improved to some extent. However, there are no established obligations regarding the qualifications and training of drivers and accompanying staff. Although guidelines were provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in 2013 regarding the installation of seat belts, it has not yet become mandatory. Therefore, a survey was conducted targeting kindergartens and certified child care centers. While the creation of operational manuals is progressing, it was found that the provision of training opportunities for drivers and the installation of seat belts are not sufficiently advanced. Additionally, issues related to the increasing number of part-time drivers and the aging workforce, as well as the necessity for the development of effective seat belts and public funding for cost subsidies, have revealed numerous challenges that need to be addressed to enhance the safety of shuttle buses in the future.
