原田英語の時事英語ジュニア｜英語ニュース ワークシート（高校生レベル）
Class ____ No. ____ Name ____________________
運転手のいない自動運転バス、レベル4の路線バスを国が来年度から実験へ
Japan to Test Public Buses Without Drivers From 2027
1Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to test fully driverless public buses, with trials set to begin in fiscal 2027. The ministry announced the plan in July 2026. Japan's fiscal 2027 runs from April 2027 to March 2028.
2The buses will run with no driver on board. Instead, a remote monitoring system will oversee both the driving and the care of passengers. This setup matches Level 4 on the scale used to rank self-driving technology, meaning the vehicle needs no human driver under certain conditions. The scale has six levels, from Level 0, with no automation, to Level 5, where a car can drive itself in all conditions.
3Driving is only part of the work on a public bus. The project will develop systems that open and close the doors automatically and show passengers where the bus is headed. Staff working from a distance will also be able to assist riders.
4Japan has already run several Level 4 trials. However, most of them used small shuttles, or larger buses that still carried a safety driver. The new trials will test whether buses used in public transportation can carry riders with no one at the wheel.
5The ministry invited bus operators, commercial vehicle makers and developers of remote monitoring systems to take part. The trials are part of a demonstration project run by the ministry. Applications for the project closed on July 29.
Words 単語
| fiscalB2 | 形 | 会計の（fiscal 2027 で「2027年度」）about the yearly plan for money |
| fullyA2 | 副 | 完全にcompletely, with nothing missing |
| monitoringB1 | 名 | 監視、見守りwatching something closely over time |
| oversee外 | 動 | 管理する、監督するto watch and control how work is done |
| automation外 | 名 | 自動化using machines to do work without people |
| conditionsA2 | 名 | 条件、状況（condition の複数形）the situation, such as weather or place |
| automaticallyA2 | 副 | 自動でby itself, with no person doing it |
| assistB1 | 動 | 手助けするto help someone do something |
| shuttles外 | 名 | シャトル（決まった区間を行き来する乗り物。shuttle の複数形）vehicles that go back and forth on a short trip |
| operatorsB2 | 名 | 運営会社（operator の複数形）companies that run a service |
単語のレベル：CEFR-J（『CEFR-J Wordlist Version 1.6』 東京外国語大学投野由紀夫研究室. （URL: https://www.cefr-j.org/download.html より 2026年8月ダウンロード））
1. Reading Quiz 本文の内容に合うものを選ぼう
Which period does Japan's fiscal 2027 cover?
A. January to December 2027B. July 2026 to June 2027C. April 2027 to March 2028D. April 2026 to March 2027
What does Level 4 mean?
A. The vehicle needs no human driver under certain conditions.B. A car can drive itself in all conditions.C. The vehicle has no automation.D. A driver must always hold the wheel.
Besides driving, what will the new systems do?
A. Sell snacks to ridersB. Open and close the doors and show where the bus is headedC. Clean the roadsD. Teach people how to drive
What was true of most earlier Level 4 trials in Japan?
A. They used trains.B. They took place overseas.C. They had no passengers at all.D. They used small shuttles or buses with a safety driver.
When did applications for the project close?
A. On July 29B. On April 1C. In March 2028D. In fiscal 2027
2. True or False 正しければ T、違っていれば F
( ) The scale for self-driving technology has six levels.
( ) A remote monitoring system will oversee the buses.
( ) Japan has never run a Level 4 trial.
( ) Only bus operators were invited to take part.
3. Fill in the Blanks 下の語から選んで空らんをうめよう（形を変えずに）
assistconditionsautomationfiscalmonitoringautomatically
Staff working from a distance will also be able to _____ riders.
The project will develop systems that open and close the doors _____ and show passengers where the bus is headed.
The scale has six levels, from Level 0, with no _____, to Level 5, where a car can drive itself in all conditions.
This setup matches Level 4 on the scale used to rank self-driving technology, meaning the vehicle needs no human driver under certain _____.
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to test fully driverless public buses, with trials set to begin in _____ 2027.
Instead, a remote _____ system will oversee both the driving and the care of passengers.
4. Word Order 語を並べかえて正しい文にしよう
( on / Driving / public / bus / work / the / part / only / a / is / of ) .
( Japan / several / Level / already / 4 / run / trials / has ) .
( closed / the / for / 29 / Applications / July / on / project ) .
5. Think and Write 英語で答えてみよう
Do you think buses without drivers are a good idea for small towns? Explain your view.（運転手のいないバスは、小さな町にとってよい考えだと思いますか？考えを説明しよう。）
If something goes wrong on a driverless bus, how should passengers get help?（運転手のいないバスで困ったことが起きたら、乗客はどうやって助けを求めるべきでしょうか？）
Answers 解答
1. (1) C (2) A (3) B (4) D (5) A
2. (1) T (2) T (3) F (4) F
3. (1) assist (2) automatically (3) automation (4) conditions (5) fiscal (6) monitoring
4.
- Driving is only part of the work on a public bus.
- Japan has already run several Level 4 trials.
- Applications for the project closed on July 29.
全文訳
1経済産業省は、完全に運転手のいない路線バスを試す計画で、実験は2027年度に始まる予定です。同省は2026年7月にこの計画を発表しました。日本の2027年度は、2027年4月から2028年3月までです。
2バスは運転手を乗せずに走ります。そのかわりに、遠隔で見守るシステムが、運転と乗客への対応の両方を管理します。このしくみは、自動運転の技術をランク分けする基準の「レベル4」にあたり、決められた条件のもとでは人間の運転手がいらないことを意味します。基準は6段階で、自動化のないレベル0から、どんな条件でも車が自分で走れるレベル5まであります。
3路線バスの仕事は、運転だけではありません。この事業では、ドアを自動で開け閉めしたり、乗客に行き先を表示したりするシステムを開発します。離れた場所で働くスタッフが、乗客を手助けできるようにもします。
4日本では、すでにいくつかのレベル4の実験が行われています。しかし、その多くは小型のシャトル車両か、安全のための運転手がまだ乗っている大きめのバスでした。新しい実験では、公共交通のバスがハンドルをにぎる人なしで乗客を運べるかどうかを試します。
5同省は、バス会社、商用車のメーカー、遠隔で見守るシステムの開発会社に参加をよびかけました。実験は、同省が進める実証事業の一部です。事業への申しこみは7月29日にしめ切られました。
文法ポイント：分詞構文（〜, meaning ...）
文の後ろに「, + 〜ing」をつけて、前の内容に説明を足す。本文の This setup matches Level 4 ..., meaning the vehicle needs no human driver under certain conditions. は「（それは）〜ということを意味する」と補足している。
出典：The Star（The Japan News／ANN 配信）、VnExpress International ほか（記事は原田英語の時事英語ジュニアのオリジナル）｜https://www.haradaeigo.com/jijieigo-junior/news/2026-07-06-japan-driverless-public-buses/