Autonomous bus test starts at Tochigi Prefecture roadside rest area

TOCHIGI – A test of self-driving bus services organized by the transport ministry kicked off at a michi no eki roadside rest area in Tochigi Prefecture on Saturday. The ministry hopes to launch the autonomous bus services in fiscal 2020, aiming to provide a means of transportation for elderly people living in hilly and mountainous areas with dwindling populations. On Saturday, a ceremony to mark the launch of the test and a test-ride event were held in the city of Tochigi. Among the participants was transport minister Keiichi Ishii. According to the ministry, 80 percent of michi no eki rest areas in Japan are in hilly and mountainous areas.