Riding safer than ever

Today's article is much more straight forward than yesterday's, with none of the existential questions of translation methodology that played me then.  And...it's probably no more interesting to your average man on the street.  Still, it's keeping my brain active. And, given that I've ridden on overnight busses on a number of occasions in Japan, including to and from Shinjuku station, it's good to know that busses may be a tad safer than previously.

国交省、ツアーバス一斉点検 新 基準適用開始

高速ツアーバスの夜間運行について運転手の １日の走行距離の上限を原則400キロに改めるな どした新基準が20日から適用になり、国土交通 省は同日、全国の主要なバスの発着所で一斉点 検を実施した。利用客が増える８月にかけて全 国で順次実施する。

新宿駅西口周辺の発着所では、関東運輸局の 職員ら８人が発車前のバスに乗り込み、運行指 示書の内容や行き先までの距離を調べた。走行 距離が840キロの四国行きのバスでは「交代の運 転手はいますか」と尋ね、２人体制を確認し た。

娘２人と高知県に帰省する東京都小金井市の 主婦（40）は、新基準について「これまで以上 に安心して利用できる」と話していた。

http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDG2005E_Q2A720C1CC1000/

Transportation Ministry, simultaneous tour bus inspection begins based on new standards

New regulations that set the maximum distance a driver can operate an overnight tour bus in a single day at 400 kilometers went into force on the 20 th . This same day, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism conducted inspections of all busses at major departure points around the country. These inspections will go through a phased implementation through the country in the month of August when the number of riders increases.

At departure points near Shinjuku Station West Exit, 8 staff from the Kanto Department of Transportation boarded busses prior to departure, checking the contents of driving instructions and distance to destinations. On one Shikoku bound bus with a travel distance of 840 kilometers, they asked whether there was a replacement driver present and confirmed that there were two present.

One house wife (age 40) from the town of Koganei in Tokyo Prefecture who was visiting her home Kochi prefecture with her two daughters said, “We can ride with greater peace of mind than before.”