Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS)
Minibuses are
regularly used to transport all kinds of people, old and young. 
A failure of
understanding, inexperience and skill of the minibus driver can result in high
maintenance and repair costs and may even result in injury or loss of life. Added
to this, minibus drivers often feel they have been asked to conduct a task for
which they are poorly qualified and can lack confidence.
Practical training and assessment is essential for ensuring that anyone who drives a minibus has the necessary knowledge, understanding, capability and attitude to do so safely, reducing the risk to drivers, passengers and other road users. It also increases the comfort of passengers and, particularly important when children are involved, reassures parents that their family is in safe hands. Added benefits include reduced running and maintenance costs, and possibly reduced insurance premiums.
Driver training will normally include:
- Familiarisation with the vehicle;
- Vehicle checks that should be conducted before and after each journey;
- Emergency procedures;
- Passenger care, including disability awareness (if applicable);
- Using passenger lifts or ramps (if relevant);
- Loading, unloading and securing passengers travelling in wheelchairs and stowing wheelchairs not in use during the journey (if relevant);
- Proper use of seat belts, harnesses and other passenger safety equipment;
- On-road assessment on the types of roads the driver is likely to use (e.g. motorways or dual carriageways, urban and/or rural roads).