Minibus Drivers Awareness Scheme
It is recommended that all drivers of community minibuses undertake MiDAS training. We offer New Driver and Refresher MiDAS training. This is normally held at Ringwood, but on occasions alternative locations may be used.
Standard training takes about 4 hours for the theory work plus an hour and a half for a driving assessment which will be arranged at a future date.
Accessible training is to enable the transport of people with disabilities. The course takes 4 hours for standard training, plus another 2 hours for disability awareness and the securing of wheelchairs in the minibus, plus the driving assessment.
All MiDAS certificates are valid for 4 years after which time a refresher course must be taken.
Whether you are able to drive a minibus depends on when you passed your driving test.
1. If you passed your car driving test before 1997, you are licenced to drive a minibus. Check that you have the correct entitlement on your licence:
- On older-style licences: Groups A, E.
- On newer-style licences: D1
(restriction 1 or 101, not for hire or reward).
2. If you passed your car driving test after 1 January 1997, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- Aged 21 or over.
- Have held a full licence (category B) for 2 years.
- You will be driving on a voluntary basis.
- The minibus is used for social purposes. In practice this means you need to operate under a Small Bus Permit (Minibus Permit).
- The minibus has a maximum weight of no more than 3.5 tonnes (or 4.25 tonnes where a minibus has a passenger lift or ramp). This may mean volunteers cannot drive the larger, heavier minibuses.
- No trailer can be towed.
MIDAS Training Dates 2010
-
Thursday 12 August
-
Thursday 9 September
- Thursday 14 October
- Thursday 11 November
- Thursday 9 December
Making a Booking
To book a place on one of our courses or to find out details of costs please follow this link
Location and timings
Courses are held at Community First New Forest, Public Offices, 65 Christchurch Road, Ringwood BH24 1DH.
Courses are run from 9am – 1pm for standard training and 9am-4pm for accessible training. |
