First Bus fields the most drivers for final of Bus Driver of the Year

First Bus will field the most drivers in the final of Bus Driver of the Year.

A group of 36 have qualified from depots across the country and are headed for the famous Blackpool seaside resort on 6  September.

The drivers include current holder, Michael Leech, based at the operator’s Halifax depot, who is aiming to defend his title.

Craig Pemberton, Driver Training Excellence Manager at First Bus, said: “Michael is a great example of the skilled and dedicated drivers we have across the business. He will be facing tough competition from around the country, including the many colleagues from other depots.

“I wish all of them the best of luck in the finals and hope we can again call one of our drivers the Bus Driver of the Year.”

First Bus has put drivers through a rigorous series of tests to be selected as a finalist. This has included Driver Quality Monitoring where members of its training school ride a bus in service, assessing performance, technical skills and bus manoeuvres arriving and leaving stops, as well as interaction with customers.

Other records of driving performance over the past 12 months including Green Road, a daily score of how well a driver controls speed, braking and turning during a shift, any accidents or near-miss incidents and customer feedback are also evaluated.

The First Bus drivers will make up a third of the finalists among the 100-plus competitors.

Michael will be joined by 10 colleagues from Yorkshire depots, making the county the best-represented First Bus region in the competition. Ten drivers from the East & Midlands are second-largest group, with six from the South & West and three each representing Scotland, Wales and London.

First Bus is also adding to the prizes among its drivers. The highest placed in the finals will receive £1,000 with the 2nd place awarded £500.

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