Japan Bus Theory cheat sheet

Road Transport Vehicle Act (doro unso sharyo ho) governs vehicle safety standards; Road Traffic Act (doro kotsu ho) governs how vehicles are driven and where they may travel.

Under the Road Traffic Act, a bus driver must carry a valid driving licence of the correct class for the vehicle's gross weight and passenger capacity, and must present it if asked by police.

Drivers must obey the general speed limit (60 km/h on ordinary roads unless posted otherwise) and any posted limit; buses are additionally bound by company speed rules that are often lower.

Parking and stopping prohibitions: no stopping within 5 m of a fire hydrant, bus stop, or crossing, and no parking within 5 m of a railway crossing or intersection edge unless marked otherwise.

Seat belt use is mandatory for the driver and all passengers under the Road Traffic Act; the driver is responsible for instructing passengers to wear belts where fitted.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is prohibited with zero tolerance; refusal to submit to a breath test is itself an offence.

A driver must report any accident involving injury or property damage to police immediately (within 24 hours at latest for property-only cases) and must not leave the scene.

Bus operators must appoint a safety management officer (anzen un'ei kanri sha) and maintain a roster of drivers, vehicles, and duty records under the Road Transport Vehicle Act.

Pre-trip daily inspection (tenken) covers: brakes, tyres and pressures, lights and indicators, horn, wipers and washer, mirrors, steering play, engine oil and coolant levels, and emergency equipment.

Tyres must have tread depth of at least 1.6 mm in the principal grooves; buses also require checking for uneven wear, cuts, and correct pressure for load.

Brake test: with engine running, press pedal and hold; pedal must not sink to floor and should feel firm. Air-brake buses must build pressure to the specified range and hold it with engine off.

Light check: headlights, tail lamps, brake lamps, turn signals, hazard lamps, reversing lamps, and interior lighting must all function; check both low and high beam.

Registration and inspection certificate (shaken) must be valid and carried in the vehicle; the inspection sticker must be displayed.

Emergency equipment to verify: fire extinguisher (pressure gauge in green), warning triangle or flares, first-aid kit, and wheel chocks.

Fluid checks: engine oil between min and max marks, coolant at full line, brake fluid above minimum, power-steering fluid at proper level, and washer fluid topped up.

Any defect found during pre-trip inspection must be recorded and the vehicle taken out of service until repaired; the driver must not drive a vehicle with a known safety defect.

Before moving off, the driver must confirm all doors are closed, all passengers are seated or holding handrails, and the doorway area is clear.

At stops, the bus must be brought to a complete stop, the parking brake applied, and doors opened only when the vehicle is stationary and safely positioned at the kerb.

Wheelchair users: deploy the ramp or lift only after the vehicle is stopped and secured; ensure the wheelchair is facing forward and the brake is applied before moving.

Priority seating and assistance: elderly, disabled, pregnant, and injured passengers must be given time to board and alight; the driver should offer assistance and wait until they are seated.

Standing passengers must not be allowed to stand forward of the front axle line or on the stairs; the driver should announce and enforce this.

Emergency exits, hammers, and door releases must be pointed out or announced at the start of each journey.

When alighting, the driver must check mirrors and the doorway before closing doors to prevent trapping passengers or their belongings.

At railway crossings and steep stops, the driver must ensure passengers are seated before proceeding and must not open doors on the traffic side unless safe.

Following distance: maintain at least a 2-second gap in good conditions and 3-4 seconds in rain, darkness, or when fully loaded; buses need longer stopping distances than cars.

Scan pattern: look 12-15 seconds ahead, check mirrors every 5-8 seconds, and sweep intersections left-right-left before entering.

Blind spots: buses have large blind areas in front, at the sides, and behind; use mirror checks and shoulder checks before lane changes and turns.

At intersections, slow down and be prepared to stop even on green; watch for cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles entering from side streets.

In rain, reduce speed and increase following distance; avoid sudden braking and steering to prevent skidding, especially with passengers standing.

At night, use low beam in built-up areas and when following or meeting traffic; high beam only on unlit roads with no oncoming traffic.

Railway crossings: stop, look, and listen where required; never enter a crossing unless the far side is clear.

Hazard perception rule: if a potential hazard is identified, cover the brake and reduce speed before the hazard develops into an emergency.

Accident sequence: stop immediately, switch off engine, apply parking brake, turn on hazard lamps, and set out warning triangle behind the vehicle.

Call 119 for ambulance/fire and 110 for police; report location, number of casualties, and vehicle details clearly.

Provide first aid within your training: do not move injured persons unless there is immediate danger (fire, traffic); control bleeding and keep the injured warm.

Report to the operator immediately after any accident or incident, including near-misses, passenger falls, and vehicle damage, even if no one is hurt.

Record at the scene: time, location, weather, road conditions, other parties' details, witness contacts, and photographs if safe to do so.

Do not admit liability or discuss fault at the scene; cooperate with police and exchange required information only.

Passenger injury on board (fall during braking, door trapping) must be documented and reported as an incident even without vehicle damage.

After an incident, the vehicle must not be returned to service until inspected and cleared; the driver must submit a written report to the safety manager.

Legal blood-alcohol limit is zero; drivers must not drive after drinking any alcohol, and must not drive while impaired by medication or illness.

Fatigue management: take a 15-minute break at least every 2 hours of continuous driving; longer breaks for night driving.

Signs of dangerous fatigue: yawning, heavy eyelids, drifting within lane, missing signs, and difficulty concentrating; pull over safely and rest.

Before duty, drivers must self-check for fever, dizziness, drowsiness, and the effects of prescription drugs; report unfit status to the dispatcher.

Sleep hygiene: aim for 7-8 hours before a shift; avoid heavy meals and alcohol before driving; short naps of 15-20 minutes can restore alertness.

Health checks: annual medical examination is required for professional drivers; report any condition affecting consciousness or vision.

Medication caution: antihistamines, cold remedies, and some painkillers cause drowsiness; check with a doctor before driving.

If you feel unwell while driving, stop in a safe place, notify the operator, and do not continue until fit.

Follow the assigned route and timetable; deviations require authorisation from the dispatcher and must be recorded.

At each stop, announce the stop name, next stop, and any transfers; repeat announcements for passengers with hearing or vision impairments.

Punctuality rule: depart on time, not early; if running late, do not speed to recover time; report delay to the dispatcher.

Fare handling: verify fares and passes according to company procedure; do not leave the driver's seat to collect fares while the vehicle is in motion.

Customer conduct: remain courteous and calm; do not argue with passengers; report disruptive behaviour to the dispatcher and, if necessary, police.

Lost property must be handed to the operator's lost-property office and logged; do not keep items.

Vehicle security: check the bus for left items and suspicious objects at the end of each trip; report unattended bags.

Record keeping: complete the daily operation log, including departure and arrival times, incidents, and fuel or charge records.

Smooth acceleration: accelerate gently and reach cruising speed efficiently; avoid full-throttle starts, which increase fuel use and emissions.

Anticipate traffic and coast to stops; release the accelerator early rather than braking late, reducing fuel consumption and brake wear.

Keep engine idling to a minimum; switch off the engine during long stops and layovers where permitted.

Maintain correct tyre pressure; under-inflation increases rolling resistance and fuel consumption and reduces tyre life.

Use air conditioning sparingly; set a moderate temperature and avoid running it with windows open at speed.

Plan routes to avoid congestion and unnecessary detours; use the operator's routing and traffic information.

Regular maintenance (air filters, oil, brakes) keeps fuel efficiency high and reduces breakdown costs.

Eco-driving reduces fuel consumption by roughly 10-20% in urban bus operation and lowers CO2 and NOx emissions.