The UK bus and coach industry has launched a new national driver training programme designed to help tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) and strengthen passenger confidence on public transport.
This initiative, led by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), sees the introduction of a dedicated Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) module that will equip drivers across the country with the awareness, confidence and practical tools to recognise, safely respond to and report incidents of harassment or violence.
Commissioned by CPT and developed in partnership with Understood, it draws on both industry expertise and lived experience, reflecting real operating environments and the situations drivers and passengers may encounter.
The new training will be delivered as part of the CPC qualification undertaken by all professional drivers and is expected to be rolled out across bus and coach operators nationwide.
Held at the First Bus depot in Basildon, the launch event brought together operators, training partners and policymakers, including Lilian Greenwood, Minister for Local Transport and the Department for Transport’s lead on violence against women and girls.
Keith McNally, Operations Director at the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said: “Bus and coach drivers are on the front line of our public transport network.
“By embedding this training into the industry’s national driver qualification, we are taking an important step to ensure that the bus and coach sector continues to play its part in tackling violence against women and girls and creating a safer environment for everyone who uses public transport.”
