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Busan Metropolitan City Completes Installation of Biometric Alcohol Detection Systems at All City Bus Depots, Blocking Drunk Driving at the Source

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it has completed the installation of biometric alcohol detection systems (hereinafter referred to as “the system”) at all city bus depots in order to block drunk driving by bus drivers at the source.

To prevent proxy testing and drunk driving, the City has introduced iris and facial recognition functions into the alcohol detection system. These biometric alcohol detection systems have been installed at all 53 bus depots (operated by 33 companies).

The system functions as follows:

• ●Confirms the identity of the person being tested through iris and facial recognition

• ●Measures blood alcohol concentration using a breath analyzer

• ●Stores and processes alcohol test records

• ●Displays test results on the monitor as “Untested,” “Normal,” or “Unfit to Drive”

In particular, if the result is “Unfit to Drive,” the system immediately sends a text message to the administrator. This ensures that the bus driver’s alcohol status is checked and recorded prior to operation, and both the driver and the administrator are aware of the result.

The City plans to conduct trial operations until the end of September and begin full-scale implementation in October. On September 16 at 10:00, a demonstration and on-site inspection will be held at the Yeonje Public Bus Garage.

With city and bus association representatives in attendance, the demonstration will cover scenarios including normal results, detection of alcohol use, and attempts at proxy testing.

In addition, to eradicate drunk driving among bus drivers, Busan will issue an improvement order under the Passenger Transport Business Act starting October 1. Under this order, transport operators must immediately report any unauthorized drunk driving by their drivers to the police, ensuring that the drivers are penalized under the Road Traffic Act. Related incidents must also be reported in writing to the City within 72 hours.

Furthermore, if a transport operator fails to comply with the improvement order, Busan will impose stricter administrative measures related to drunk driving, such as partial suspension of operations or increased fines, to ensure the effectiveness of the order.

Currently, if a bus driver judged “Unfit to Drive” nonetheless begins operating a bus and is not caught by the police, the only penalty applicable under the Passenger Transport Business Act is a fine.

Hwang Hyun-cheol, Director General of the Bureau of Transportation Innovation, stated, “Drunk driving by bus drivers is an unacceptable act directly tied to the safety of our citizens. By using advanced technology to eliminate blind spots in oversight and strengthening public supervision, we will apply a zero-tolerance principle and enforce the maximum penalties in order to completely eradicate drunk driving.”