Japan has mooted a plan to hike the fines dished out to tour bus operators over safety violations.
If passed, operators could face an increase in fines of a hundredfold.
Lawmakers want to raise the maximum penalty for chartered bus business operators from 1 million yen to 100 million yen.
The move comes after a ski bus careered off a road in Nagano Prefecture, and subsequent investigations uncovered several safety violations.
Fifteen people died in the crash.
There had been growing calls from the victims’ families for authorities to toughen safety rules in the industry.
The bill will also require licenses for chartered bus operators to be renewed every five years and in the case of those with a blemish-free safety record, every seven years.
