Vehicle Inspection, Maintenance, and Pre-Trip Checks
Vehicle inspection questions test the difference between 車検 (statutory periodic inspection), 定期点検 (periodic maintenance), and 日常点検 (daily pre-trip inspection). The driver owns the daily check; the operator owns the maintenance system.
The three layers
- 車検: periodic statutory inspection under the Road Transport Vehicle Act (道路運送車両法); confirms the vehicle meets 保安基準 at that point.
- 定期点検: planned maintenance at prescribed intervals, recorded in the maintenance file.
- 日常点検: before the first departure and after a vehicle change. Use the checklist and record the result.
What a bus daily check adds
Check air-brake pressure build-up and leakage, drain moisture from air tanks, tyre tread and sidewall damage, wheel-nut indicators, lights, horn, wipers, mirrors, door operation and anti-pinch, emergency exits, fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, stop bell, and wheelchair ramp/lift. Walk around and look under the bus for oil, coolant, or fuel leaks. Test the service and parking brakes at low speed after moving off.
Worked example
A driver finds a deep sidewall cut and a tread depth near the limit on the left front tyre. The 車検 is still valid. Reasoning: the daily inspection has found a safety defect. The bus must not enter service; the defect is reported, tagged, and corrected, then re-checked. A valid 車検 does not override a known daily defect.
Traps
- “車検 is valid, so the bus is fine today.”
- Skipping emergency equipment, ramp/lift, or door interlocks because they are not engine items.
- Not recording the check or not reporting a defect because the trip is short.
- Draining air tanks only occasionally instead of as specified.