Launch of free approved bus and coach driver training materials
Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) and its network of volunteer-led UK Sight Loss Councils have launched free approved bus and coach driver training materials. These are designed to inform bus and coach drivers of how best to support blind or partially sighted (BPS) passengers. The ‘Vision Impairment Awareness for Bus Drivers’ training materials are free to all bus operators and trainers.
- The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has approved the materials for their members, who make up 95 per cent of local bus services. They also make up 60 per cent of coach operators across the UK.
- The Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has confirmed the content is suitable and has met its conditions for approval for Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). This is the training bus and coach drivers do every five years to carry out their job.
- Bus operators and trainers can download and adopt the materials via the CPT compliance manual from September 2024 and the DVSA from November 2024.
Why bus travel is so important
In the short extract from the training materials, blind and partially sighted Sight Loss Council volunteers and TPT staff are sat on a bus talking about the importance of bus travel. The end slide says you can learn more at www.sightlosscouncils.org.uk and includes the Sight Loss Councils, Brighton and Hove Buses, and Thomas Pocklington Trust logos.
About the training
BPS volunteers created the training using their lived experience of bus travel, working with Brighton and Hove Buses. Three of the training videos are narrated by Paralympic Gold medallist, Lora Fachie OBE, a former Sight Loss Council member.
The resources include:
- A powerful training video for drivers called ‘Helping blind and partially sighted passengers’. Co-created by Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT), Sight Loss Councils (SLC) and Brighton and Hove Buses. The film is designed to encourage best practice in drivers. Similarly, it promotes inclusion and ensures equality of passenger experience when using buses as a blind or partially sighted person. Narrated by Paralympic Gold medallist, Laura Fachie OBE, the video carries a strong strapline of ‘See and Stop, Speak and Support’ to help with independence and confidence of blind and partially sighted passengers.
- A short film called, ‘Why is bus travel important for blind and partially sighted passengers?’ featuring a collage of clips from blind and partially sighted travellers who explain the importance of accessible buses and the independence they provide. The film also touches on how impactful a bus driver can be to their journey.
- A step-by-step video guide for bus drivers on supporting blind and partially sighted passengers to board and disembark a bus.
- A 90-minute PowerPoint presentation, packed with lived experience using film and audio. The session includes vision impairment statistics, eye care health, how to recognise a person with a vision impairment, visual and film representations of different eye conditions, communicating with a blind or partially sighted person alongside practical guiding tips.
Bus operators and trainers can download and adopt the materials via the CPT compliance manual from September 2024 and the DVSA from November 2024.
What our partners say about the training materials
DVSA’s Chief Executive, Loveday Ryder, said:
“Making sure that bus drivers are fully trained to support disabled passengers is an important issue for DVSA. The visual impairments awareness driver training resource is an excellent tool to help improve bus drivers’ empathy and expertise when they interact with passengers who are blind or partially sighted. It’s great that DVSA, Thomas Pocklington Trust, CPT and Brighton and Hove buses have been able to work together to produce and promote this resource to the passenger carrying vehicle training industry. I’m sure it will help drivers and operators to meet the needs of their passengers, provide invaluable subject matter expertise to the driver training industry and help make bus travel more accessible for the many visually impaired passengers who rely on bus services in their daily lives.’’
Keith McNally, Operations Director at the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said:
“CPT welcomes the new training material, which will enhance the abilities of public service vehicle (PSV) drivers to identify, assist and support our sector’s customers. Bus and coach operators can now utilise this training, which will complement their investment in wider accessibility measures and should enable blind and partially sighted people to have greater confidence when travelling on their local bus services.”
Ed Wills, Managing Director, Brighton & Hove and Metrobus, said:
“These training films are a new and innovative way of demonstrating to drivers the vital role they play in supporting blind and partially sighted passengers. We are always striving to make bus travel as accessible as possible which is why we contributed to the making of these films.”
Claire Walters, Chief Executive of Bus Users UK, said:
06/09/2022
Catch the Bus Month 2022 event at The House of Lords“Accessible transport is a lifeline for people, providing access to essential services, education and employment. This initiative is extremely welcome and will have a huge impact on passengers with sight-loss, enabling them to travel safely and with confidence.”
Bus operators and trainers can download and adopt the materials via the CPT compliance manual from September 2024 and the DVSA from November 2024.