|
Medway Council's Safer Jouneys Team has adopted the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents' (RoSPA) minibus code of practice. This overrides any previous code of practice or policy used by the council.
Anyone wishing to drive a minibus who is employed by Medway Council or drives on behalf of the council must undertake Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS) training. To find your nearest MIDAS provider, please contact the Community Transport Association (CTA) at www.ctauk.org or phone 0845 1306195.
MiDAS training
The scheme is organised by the Community Transport Association (CTA) (www.ctauk.org/index.aspx?id=150) and endorsed by RoSPA (www.rospa.com). These groups offer a variety of driver-training information to all local organisations that wish to improve the driving standards of their employees. In particular, please note the Minibus Safety Code of Practice (pdf 3,293KB) which can also be found on the the RoSPA website. To use this file, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this on your computer, please use our advice page to download it.
Many service providers, such as the Kent Council for Voluntary Youth Services (KCVYS) (www.kentcvys.org.uk/#minibus), provide a MiDAS course. For further MiDAS advice and details of your nearest MiDAS Driver Trainer, please contact the CTA.
Legal requirements
Find out the law (www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_4022498) about driving a minibus, including the type of licence you should hold, driving abroad and what you should do if you do not have the minibus entitlement.
Learning to drive a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV)
If you passed your car (Category B) driving test for the first time after 1 January 1997, you are only licensed to drive vehicles with up to eight passenger seats (excluding the driver). To drive a minibus (nine to 16 passenger seats) you must be aged 21 years or over and hold Category D1 entitlement.
Getting this entitlement can be a costly process but when you qualify, you will have demonstrated an ability above that of the ordinary car licence holder.
To find out more, please check out the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) (www.dsa.gov.uk) or visit our PCV D1 training advice page.
Minibus reassessments
Until March 2008, the council's Road Safety Team carried out minibus reassessments. Candidates should now contact other service providers or undertake the MiDAS training course. For more information, please contact the Road Safety Team using the contact details below.
The benefits of driver training
The Road Safety Team recommends driver education programmes that suit both recreational and professional drivers, to help reduce injuries and crashes on the roads in Medway.
The benefits of driver training for the employer include both tangible and non-tangible elements such as:
- reduced crash and injury rates for employees;
- a potential reduction in insurance premiums;
- increased use of vehicles;
- savings in fleet running costs, including maintenance and fuel;
- reduced environmental impact on the local and wider community, leading to improved quality of life for all;
- an enhanced environmental profile;
- reduced health and safety problems;
- the fulfilment of health and safety obligations;
- dissemination of information beyond the immediate client base.
Benefits to the employee are as follows:
- reduced risk;
- increased confidence;
- reduced stress levels;
- reduced conflict;
- dissemination of information to family and friends;
- greater awareness of the individual's responsibility to other road users and health and safety issues;
- raised awareness of personal responsibility rather than a reliance on blame culture;
- improved personal fuel economy;
- reduced insurance claims.
Useful advanced driver training websites
|
Text version | Accessibility help | Change contrast | Printer friendly
