Operating Rules, Routes, and Service Conduct
Operating-rule questions cover the Road Transport Act (道路運送法), the route authorization, fares, timetables, and the conduct expected of a service driver.
Route and service rules
- Operate only on the authorized route and stops, under the approved timetable and fare.
- Display the route, destination, and fare clearly; issue the correct ticket or accept the correct fare.
- Do not deviate, skip stops, or change the destination without instructions from the operator/control.
- Keep 運行記録 and report delays, road closures, and diversions promptly.
Service conduct
Greet passengers, announce stops and transfers, and give accurate information. Do not use a personal phone, eat, smoke, or treat passengers differently. Assist elderly passengers, wheelchair users, and people with ヘルプマーク. Keep the bus clean and the emergency equipment in place.
Worked example
A road is closed by a burst water main. The driver wants to detour via a narrow residential street. Reasoning: the driver must contact control, follow the approved diversion, and not invent a route; the narrow street may be unsuitable for a bus and may not be authorized.
Traps
- Deviating “to help” without authorization.
- Skipping a stop because no one rang the bell, when passengers are waiting.
- Refusing or treating a passenger unfairly because of disability or appearance.
- Using a mobile phone at a stop or while driving.
Exam tip
When a question asks “what should the driver do first?”, look for the action that keeps the service legal and the passenger informed, then the action that restores the timetable.