- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,057
- 18,914
When the language barrier turns into language panic.
Two foreign tourists who accidentally got on a bus out of service called the police in a panic when the driver refused to engage or halt the bus. The incident, which took place in Kyoto, involved the bus travelling approximately 4 kilometres over 20 minutes before the situation was resolved, as per the Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau and other reports. The driver, employed by West Japan JR Bus Co., continued driving due to communication difficulties. He said, "I was unsure how to communicate with the non-Japanese passengers. I believed addressing the situation at the bus terminal office would be more appropriate." Operations of the Kyoto city bus are partially contracted to West Japan JR Bus by the Kyoto municipal authorities.
Two foreign tourists who accidentally got on a bus out of service called the police in a panic when the driver refused to engage or halt the bus. The incident, which took place in Kyoto, involved the bus travelling approximately 4 kilometres over 20 minutes before the situation was resolved, as per the Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau and other reports. The driver, employed by West Japan JR Bus Co., continued driving due to communication difficulties. He said, "I was unsure how to communicate with the non-Japanese passengers. I believed addressing the situation at the bus terminal office would be more appropriate." Operations of the Kyoto city bus are partially contracted to West Japan JR Bus by the Kyoto municipal authorities.