A tour bus driver found using a smartphone while driving on a highway has been suspended after video of the man breaking the law appeared online.
The incident came to light after a video of the driver in his 40s using a smartphone while driving a bus with 36 passengers was posted on the Internet. No accident occurred.
According to Tokyo-based Club Tourism International Inc., the driver who works for a bus company was on a one-day trip from Tokyo to Shizuoka Prefecture on Sunday.
At around 9 a.m., he reportedly used a smartphone while driving on the Tomei Expressway in Kanagawa Prefecture, the firm said.
According to the bus company that employs him, the driver said the bus was caught in a traffic jam at the time and he was driving at around 10 kph, often stopping. He told the company that he was checking traffic information on the smartphone.
The bus company said the driver will be suspended for the time being and will receive training.
Club Tourism issued an apology and asked all contracting bus companies to strengthen driver safety education.