Training Activities

Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme - (MiDAS)
In 1996, Dial-a-Journey enrolled on the Community Transport Association's (CTA) Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS). It recognised the need for a nationally accepted training and assessment scheme for all types of minibus driver.

The company also acknowledged that the self-drive hire service had grown to such an extent that the informal training given to users was not enough to ensure the thorough understanding of all aspects of driving a minibus, such as the legal requirements and liabilities associated with carrying passengers in buses.

Early in 1997 the company engaged the services of a MiDAS training agent and successfully nominated 4 drivers to become driver/assessor trainers. We embarked on a programme of assessing all our own staff then moving on to the assessing and training of all self-drive users. In addition to our own service users, our MiDAS trainers have delivered training and assessment to other external bodies such as the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Red Cross. In 1998/9, we provided passenger awareness and safety training to all Taxi and Private Hire Car drivers in the Stirling Council operating Area. In 2000 this was extended to cover some Taxi companies in the Falkirk Area

Also in 2000, we were successful in being awarded the task of delivering initial MiDAS training to users of Stirling Council minibuses, and in the near future will embark on MiDAS training for Falkirk Council's Social Work Department.

Minibus Evacuation Techniques
More recently, Dial-a-Journey has chosen to provide Minibus Evacuation Training, as it is crucially important to get this right oin the event of an unforeseen incident. In the very near future, our Community Transport Association Trained Trainers will start to deliver a half-day training session on this topic.

Passenger Assistant Training
Similarly, our Trainers have completed training in how to deliver topics relating to the care of passengers whilst in the care of passenger assistants. It is intended to roll out pilot sessions in the near future.