'Iris' has the MiDAS touch

Minibuses are a relatively safe form of passenger transport but the task of minibus driving requires skills over and above those required for driving a car.

Colleagues and residents recently completed MiDAS driver training at Community Gateway Association’s (CGA) headquarters in Preston. 'Iris' CGA's minibus was used during the training.

MiDAS is the Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme, organised by the Community Transport Association U.K. (CTA) which promotes a nationally recognised standard for the assessment and training of minibus drivers. It is a membership based scheme that has been designed to enhance minibus driving standards and promote the safer operation of minibuses.

The MiDAS training programme is split into several sections

• Theory Training
• Driving Assessments & Training
• Theory Exam
   

Since 2007, 36 volunteers have completed MiDAS allowing many people to utilise the minibus giving residents and groups the opportunity to get mobile. The group also received practical instruction on how to secure passengers who are travelling in wheelchairs.

MiDAS training forms part of CGA’s ongoing commitment to resident and community development.

In 2008 ‘Iris’ was utilised on 150 separate occasions ranging from taking a group of children to Alton Towers to transporting a group of elderly residents to see the Blackpool illuminations.
 

Thanks go to Preston Community Transport for providing the training.

For more information about MiDAS training www.prestonct.co.uk/