Zhengzhou bus company launches wake-up service

An undated photo shows a bus driver poses for photos with a signboard of their "wake-up service" in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. [Photo / weibo.com]

A bus company in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, has launched a wake-up service to prevent sleepy passengers from missing their stops.

People in need of the service can inform the bus drivers of their names and destinations. The drivers will then inform the passengers upon arrivals at their destinations.

The idea comes from a small incident that took place last month.

A young man missed his stop after falling asleep on the bus. He was on the way to his first day at a new job. He felt quite regretful and wished that someone could have notified him at his stop.

As the weather gets warmer and more comfortable, the company expects more sleepy passengers. So it started testing the wake-up service on two bus routes.

While the service has been much appreciated, some people have raised safety concerns, fearing the service may distract the bus drivers.

Yang Chaoqun, an employee at the bus company, said that the bus drivers are instructed to give the notices only when the buses have come to a stop.

Depending on the initial test results, the company could expand the wake-up service to more routes.