Years before Sunday's fatal highway bus crash in Gunma Prefecture killed seven, a survey conducted by the internal affairs ministry illustrated that the sector was not immune to severe accidents, especially if drivers are fatigued.
Of the 136 long-distance bus drivers who took part in the survey, conducted between April and May 2009, 122 said they had either fallen asleep or felt drowsy behind the wheel and 130 had faced risky situations while driving due to fatigue.
Of those who nearly experienced an accident, 61 percent blamed it on inadequate rest due to tight scheduling, the survey revealed.