BDoY announces final as Traffic Commissioner becomes director

A date has been set for the Bus Driver of the Year National Final, as Gerallt Evans, the outgoing Traffic Commissioner for the North West of England, is announced as a new director for the competition.

The BDoY National Final takes place in Blackpool on 1 September and will be headquartered at The Imperial Hotel.

Entry for the BDoY National Final opens this week with bus operators invited to register online. At this stage, companies need only decide the number of drivers they wish to enter and will be asked to pay the entry fee. They will then receive an information pack to enable them to proceed with selection of their best drivers.

BDoY seeks to reward full-time drivers who exercise their skills throughout the year, and it is therefore a requirement for entry is that the driver works at least three full shifts per week to qualify for entry to the competition.

Having recovered strongly in 2022, and again in 2023, after the hiatus caused by the Covid pandemic, companies are urged not to delay in submitting their applications, which must in any event be received no later than mid-May.

“I am overwhelmed that despite the challenges still facing bus companies the support for our UK BDoY competition has continued to grow” – BDoY Chairman, Joe Mackie

BDoY Chairman, Joe Mackie, said: “I am overwhelmed that despite the challenges still facing bus companies the support for our UK BDoY competition has continued to grow. Last year we were at capacity, 119 entrants. Some were hoping to regain the top spot, others with the objective of doing better than previously and all hoping to win the coveted title.”

The National Final enables drivers to display their skills while affording them the chance to win valuable prizes and claim the accolade of ‘UK Bus Driver of the Year’, won last year by Lee Grantham of National Express West Midlands.

“During my four years as Traffic Commissioner, and previously with the Crown Prosecution Service, I have been acutely aware of road safety and the importance of encouraging high standards among professional drivers” – Traffic Commissioner for North West of England, Gerallt Evans

Gerallt Evans retires as Traffic Commissioner for the North West of England on 31 January. He steps in as BDoY director to replace Chris Heaps, another former Traffic Commissioner, who served on the board since 2007.

Mr Evans said: “During my four years as Traffic Commissioner, and previously with the Crown Prosecution Service, I have been acutely aware of road safety and the importance of encouraging high standards among professional drivers. I am, therefore, more than happy to support BDoY in its aims, while it is a happy coincidence that the National Final is held in the North West region.”