9 injured in car-bus collision in Nagasaki; car driver says she was using cell phone

Monday 12th May, 07:21 PM JST

NAGASAKI —

Nine people sustained minor injuries Monday in a head-on collision between a sightseeing bus and a car on a road in Hirado, Nagasaki Prefecture, police said. The driver of the car, a 24-year-old woman from Hirado, was quoted by investigators as telling police, ‘‘I was driving while reading an email message on my cell phone and ran over the center line.’’

Aboard the bus were the driver, a conductor, a tour guide and 34 tourists from Hiroshima Prefecture. The driver of the car and eight passengers on the bus—a man in his 70s, and seven women in their 50s to 60s—sustained minor injuries to the chest or neck in the accident, which occurred around 8:30 a.m., firefighters said.

12 Comments

lipscombe at 07:24 PM JST - 12th May

there are much stronger words I'd like to use but 'silly woman' will have to do
GrouchyGaijin at 07:32 PM JST - 12th May

Legal Disclaimer: I, aka GrouchyGaijin, as a cautious, careful and considerate driver who drives on the left, does not speed much, or run red lights often or ignore stop signs totally, and never drives while fatigued, impaired by medicine or alcohol, absolutely and totally accept no responsibility now and in perpetuity, should I be involved in an accident with a dopey Japanese person or persons who drives on the wrong side, in the centre, sending text messages, talking on the phone, or in any way distracted by activities inconsistent with the safe operation of a ton or so of metal and glass traveling at high speed, whether motorized or not, with lights on, or not. You had better hope the police get to you before I do. CAN NOBODY IN THIS COUNTRY PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING?
some14some at 07:48 PM JST - 12th May

Q: CAN NOBODY IN THIS COUNTRY PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING? A: Mukanshin, Musekinin, Shouganai.
romulus3 at 08:56 PM JST - 12th May

hang on, this is the first case in ages. truckers do it all the time but with few massive accidents. Japanese people, who are addicted to their phones, do this 100 million times a day.
1keiron at 09:40 PM JST - 12th May

Q: CAN NOBODY IN THIS COUNTRY PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING? A: Mukanshin, Musekinin, Shouganai.

It doesnt just happen in Japan
usaexpat at 10:56 PM JST - 12th May

So what will happen to this woman? As far as I know talking on a cell while driving without a hands free divice is illegal. I have to assume texting is illegal as well. Anyway, nothing special here, there are so many terrible drivers that this woman with her text message is not a stand out case.
Betting at 12:25 AM JST - 13th May

In Australia as well, there are plenty of people like this, it isn't a Japan only thing. We might live in a modern world, but people all over the world have been doing the same stupid stuff since the time of the caveman. But every time I see these car accidents caused by careless drivers using their phones, it just makes me shake my head in sheer amazement at their silliness.
outofmydepth at 05:44 AM JST - 13th May

everyday i see people texting, talking, putting on make-up, shaving, plucking their eyebrows and even reading while driving. IDIOTS!!! all of them. keep your eyes on the road and take care of business in the appropriate room: be it the bathroom, the bedroom or the boardroom.
DenshaDeGO at 08:12 AM JST - 13th May

A: Mukanshin

This has to be the worst trait of current Japan. No matter what happens it's alwaysshiran
Notginger at 01:02 PM JST - 13th May

Let's hope the silly bovine gets a nice long sentence, and not one of those abbreviated SMS ones.
LFRAgain at 01:29 PM JST - 13th May

Stupidity on the part of this young woman does not invite nor deserve gender-specific insults designed to demean more than criticize. Grow the hell up, people.
frontandcentre at 02:20 PM JST - 13th May

I'm glad no-one was seriously hurt, but how much difference is this story going to make to the morons that I see every day doing something almost as daft - cycling along busy roads wearing headphones...?

Knowing human nature, probably none