Training lacking

In a survey by the charity Guide Dogs, 82% of people with sight loss said their experience with bus drivers has not improved or has got worse over the last year. The survey of 1,300 people found 13% of participants said drivers always responded appropriately to their needs. The research showed only a quarter of blind and partially sighted passengers felt drivers had received the right training to help them use the bus. Further to this, a recent survey by ComRes showed that over 80% of the public back the introduction of compulsory disability awareness training for bus drivers. Guide Dogs is calling on the Government to ensure all PCV drivers receive disability awareness training. It claims this would bring the UK in line with the rest of the EU where this training is compulsory.

Campaigns Manager, James White, said, ‘It’s clear that bus companies are not moving fast enough on this issue and more must be done to help people with sight loss, for whom buses are a lifeline. We urge the Government to adopt the driver training regulations now for the benefit of all disabled bus passengers.’