If I'm not wrong, the bus drivers in Japan also wear gloves. And
bus drivers do have a good reason to wear them - you don't really
want your hands to be badly calloused or blistered from turning
those steering wheels all day (especially if you are driving a LO3X
- which I heard takes extra effort to steer 
).
And, it does give them a somewhat more professional and stylish
image 
.
