Comhairle nan Eilean Siar PRESS RELEASE 26 March 2002 For Use: Immediately

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Comhairle Minibus Safety Improvements

As a step to improving safety for passengers, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has agreed that all drivers of Council owned minibuses should be registered with the MiDAS (Minibus Driver Awareness) scheme.

From Monday 1st April 2002, all persons intending to drive a council owned minibus either in a voluntary capacity or as part of their work duties must hold a MiDAS certificate.

Chairman of Transportation, Cllr. Norman A. Macdonald, said: “All operators of minibuses should be aware of, and seeking to improve, the safety of passengers and the Comhairle is playing its part by joining this nationally recognised scheme.”

The MiDAS scheme, organised by the Community Transport Association, 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 assessment takes the form of an on-road driver assessment, classroom based safety training and classroom based training for safely carrying disabled passengers. Drivers who successfully complete the MiDAS assessment and training programme will receive a nationally recognised certificate, as well as the option of purchasing the comprehensive ‘Minibus Driver’s Handbook’.

Anyone wishing to receive information regarding MiDAS should contact Voluntary Action Lewis on 01851 702632.

Voluntary Action Lewis were recently successful in a bid to the Scottish Executive Rural Community Transport Fund for additional funding to enable them to continue to co-ordinate MiDAS training on behalf of the Voluntary Sector in the Western Isles.

To date, over 300 people in the Western isles have successfully completed the MiDAS training.

Ends

Issued by Nigel Scott
Communications Officer

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 01851 706412 (Home)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk