The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Akabane specifically examined the risk management when the driver became ill with JR Tokai due to the problem that the driver of the Tokaido Shinkansen went to the toilet and left the driver's cab while driving. And instructed to report promptly.
On the 16th of this month, a 36-year-old driver of the Tokaido Shinkansen went to the toilet while driving at 150 km / h, and the driver's cab was left only for an unlicensed conductor for about 3 minutes.
According to JR's internal regulations, if you feel sick while driving, you should contact the transportation commander and take measures such as stopping, but the driver was away without contacting you. is.
Regarding this issue, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Akabane said at a press conference on the 25th, "Is it a serious violation of discipline to entrust driving to a person who is not qualified to drive? I instructed them to verify such things. "
On top of that, after making sure to stop the trains without hesitation in case of poor physical condition, the driver will put a simple toilet in the driver's cab and increase the number of trains that the conductor with a driver's license is on board. He requested JR Central to promptly report after considering concretely how to manage the risk when he / she becomes ill.
He also expressed his intention to instruct other JR companies that operate the Shinkansen to consider it.