Information on MiDAS

 

 

 

MIDAS

·        is a scheme, which your organisation has joined. Membership is open to any organisation operating minibuses on a non-commercial basis.

 

·        helps to improve minibus safety by working with your organisation to enhance the driving and passenger awareness skills of drivers.

 

·        is organised by the Community Transport Association (CTA), which is the national representative body for community, voluntary and other specialist transport operators and their supporters

 

How MIDAS works:

 

·        Under MIDAS, training is provided to the person in your organisation who is responsible for assessing and training minibus drivers.

 

·        This person, called a Driver Assessor/Trainer, assesses the driving ability of new minibus drivers.

 

·        Existing drivers will also have to be assessed. Some organisations will be seeking exemptions for their existing drivers.

 

 

How MIDAS will affect you:

 

Before an assessment of your driving ability takes place, you will be asked to:

 

·        complete and sign a Driver Registration form.

 

·        produce your driving licence.

 

·        undertake a simple eyesight check.

 

 

 

You may also be asked to provide two references. If you are an existing driver, some of these steps may have already been done.

 

The assessment, will normally last for about I hour and will include:

 

·       a demonstration drive by the Driver Assessor/Trainer so you can see the standard of driving which is required.

 

·        the opportunity for you to drive the vehicle under supervision in order to receive on‑road vehicle familiarisation.

 

·        an assessment of your driving skills.

 

After a successful assessment,

 

You will be given:

 

·        Basic training by your Driver Assessor/Trainer in the skills and information you need when driving minibuses.

 

·        additional training if you drive an accessible vehicle (one which can carry passengers who use wheelchairs).

 

·        at the end of this training you will be asked to undertake a theory assessment.

 

If you fail the assessment, your organisation may decide to provide you with additional training to bring your driving skills up to the MIDAS standard.

 

After you have completed your assessment and training, and have passed the theory assessment

 

you will receive:

 

a MIDAS certificate, which enables you to drive the minibuses of other MIDAS members without needing to be re‑assessed. You will still have to meet the other organisation's insurance requirements and may need to receive familiarisation on the vehicles that they use. You will not be able to drive accessible vehicle; belonging to other organisations unless you have received training in the skills associated with using such minibuses.

 

MIDAS Driver's Handbook may also be purchased, in the form an A5 book, which contains useful information about minibus driving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After four years

 

·        you will be asked to attend a “refresher” training session. This will involve a:

 

-re-assessment of your driving ability

 

-classroom based training session

 

-further theory assessment

 

In certain circumstances, such as being convicted of a driving offence or being involved in a road traffic accident your organization may ask you to have your driving skills re-assessed. It is up to your organization to decide when this is appropriate.

 

Note

 

Your organisation may decide not to appoint a Driver Assessor/Trainer itself, but to use someone from another organization.

 

 

What MiDAS offers you:

 

·        You and your passengers will be aware that your driving competence has been assessed to a common countrywide standard.

 

·        You will receive up to date training in the skills and information needed to drive a minibus.

 

·        You will be able to drive minibuses of other MiDAS members without having your driving skills re-assessed.

 

For further information about MiDAS contact your Driver Assessor/Trainer in the first instance:

13/Fifty Driver Development

Voice 01638 610522

Fax  01638 601621

E.Mail training@13-fifty.co.uk

 

 

Note

 

MiDAS drivers’ certificates issued for minibus either standard or accessible are subject to length restrictions:

 

1.      Up to 5.5 metres in length

2.      Over 5.5 metres in length

 

It is in your interest to provide the larger vehicle (if you operate one) for the driver assessment.

 

A current driving licence will be required to be produced on the training day.

 

Vehicle documentation (not including insurance) will be required on the training day

 

If the vehicle is found to be unroadworthy training will not take place and charges will still be made.

 

 

Neither 13/Fifty nor its instructors can condone any breach of the law