#MakeBusesAccessible

We have worked with the Confederation of Passenger Transport and the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to develop 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 and free to all bus operators and trainers.

Access free training materials for bus drivers

Buses are the principal form of transport for blind and partially sighted (BPS) people. But they simply aren’t accessible enough to enable blind and partially sighted people to travel independently. We are here to change this.

69 per cent of public transport journeys in Great Britain were made on local buses in the financial year ending 2021. They are the most heavily used public transport mode by people with mobility difficulty.

BPS people can face a range of challenges accessing bus services, including having to navigate unfamiliar layouts whilst the bus is travelling.

Our Sight Loss Councils work regularly with local transport authorities and operators to improve accessibility. This includes by raising awareness of the needs of BPS customers and running highly successful ‘Meet the Buses’ events across the country. We also working with Thomas Pocklington Trust to run campaigns to raise issues with and enact national change through government ministers and MPs.

Sight Loss Council and Young Voices volunteers, and Thomas Pocklington staff, are sat on a bus creating some of the videos used in the training materials. Two passengers have white canes with them and there is a guide dog sat at the front.Launch of free approved bus and coach driver training materialsThomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) and its network of volunteer-led UK Sight Loss Councils have launched approved training materials 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.  Read more
Left to right: Trainee driver Richard Ward, Training and Recruitment Manager Keith Sheard and Trainee Driver Chantelle Pisarkeiwicz. They are stood in a line in front of a red First York bus. They are smiling.York SLC meets with bus drivers to help increase accessibility of travelBlind and partially sighted people met with drivers and managers at bus operator First York to discuss further ways to help and support people’s travel needs, increase accessibility and encourage a return to bus use after the pandemic. Read more
Red bus driving down a road.Audio-visual announcement breakthroughFollowing a Sight Loss Council campaign, the Government has brought forward the timetable for the provision of audio-visual announcements on buses. Read more
A woman with a white cane guiding a man wearing sim specs by a bus, both wearing high vis vests“Small changes make a big difference”Black Country Sight Loss Council teamed up with National Express to deliver its first-ever 'Meet the Buses' event at Wolverhampton bus depot. Read all about the event here. Read more
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