Bus and Coach Driver Vision Awareness Training

Collaborating With Bus Operators on Driver Training

Guide Dogs and Thomas Pocklington Trust have teamed up to make bus travel more accessible to blind and partially sighted passengers. Developed with TPT’s volunteer led Sight Loss Councils, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and the Department for Transport (DfT), we are offering free, award-winning training resources for bus and coach drivers across the UK.

Our resources are the first vision impairment awareness materials to meet DVSA standards for CPT, featuring in its compliance manual, reaching 95% of UK bus operators. With CPC eligibility, over 500,000 professional drivers can be trained.

These materials, created with lived experience and approved for Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), help drivers confidently support blind and partially sighted passengers.

They include:

  • Three powerful training videos narrated by Paralympic Gold medallist Lora Fachie OBE
  • Practical step-by-step guides and top tips for drivers
  • A 90-minute presentation packed with real-life insights

Why take part?

  • CPT-approved for 95% of local bus services
  • Meets DVSA standards for CPC
  • Recognised with multiple industry awards

Resources are free to download from the following links:

Download the facilitator notes

Download the Powerpoint presentation

Or view the V I Awareness Resource directly below:
Having problems with the download? Try clicking the menu option in the bottom right of the below window and selecting ‘download a copy’

Complimentary ‘train the trainer’ sessions and community events are also available.

“By bringing together voluntary groups, industry, regulators and passengers, this project has created an invaluable resource to improve accessibility and enhance bus driver training. It demonstrates how collaboration can turn complex challenges into scalable sustainable solutions”

Charles Wright, Stakeholder Correspondence Manager, DVSA

“This training will enhance drivers’ ability to identify, assist and support customers, giving blind and partially sighted people greater confidence when travelling”

Keith McNally, CPT Operations Director

Bus Centre of Excellence awards 2025 winners logo. A dark green circle with the words 'Bus Centre of Excellence AWARDS 2025' inside the circle. From the left extends a neon green ribbon. At the bottom of the logo are the words 'WINNER' and 'The BCoE Collaboration Award.

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