The UK bus industry’s best drivers competing for the title of UK Bus Driver of the Year
The annual National Final takes place in Blackpool on an early September weekend, headquartered at the Imperial Hotel on North Shore, where theory tests are held and the awards ceremony takes place.
Most companies choose to accommodate their teams at the Imperial Hotel as part of the reward for success in the local qualifying contest but there is no obligation to do so. The Imperial Hotel package negotiated by the UK Bus Driver of the Year association includes the cost of the gala dinner for all adults. The responsibility for booking hotel rooms and places at the gala dinner rests with the individual competing companies. Teams will need to pay for places at the dinner for adults staying at other hotels and all children over 6 years old. Children up to 5 years old are free. All places must be booked in advance by the operating company’s local organiser via the competition portal.
Most teams arrive in Blackpool in time for the for the afternoon briefings and the gala dinner in the evening at the Imperial Hotel.
The purpose of the dinner is to bring together all the competitors, their colleagues, families and supporters in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere before the serious business of competition on the Sunday morning. It is an ideal opportunity for bus company directors, managers, staff and drivers to meet with colleagues from all parts of the UK.
There is a detailed briefing of the competitors by our Operations Director on the theory and driving tests they will encounter on the Sunday morning and it is for this reason that we encourage all competitors to attend the briefing, even if not staying at the Imperial Hotel, as this completes their preparation for the final.
Our team sets out the course early on the Sunday morning and all competitors are welcome to walk around the course to help understand the briefing and, perhaps, to decide on strategy.
National Final day seeks to simulate a driver’s normal working day. All competitors will have received a personal timetable which requires them to undertake a breathalyser test, sign on, show their driving licence (free of endorsements), along with their DCPC card. They should present themselves at the specified times for both the theory and driving tests.
Buses are kindly loaned by competing and other companies. Any operator bringing a bus to Blackpool is most welcome to lend it for use in the competition. The Vice-President’s cup is awarded for the best presented buses used in the competition.
For a period of 3–4 hours we operate the most intensive bus service in the UK. Competitors leave every 2 minutes on the 3 mile course, which incorporates some manoeuvring exercises followed by a circuit, in normal traffic, along the Promenade and Middle Walk. Drivers are required to stop with precision at a number of bus stops and marshals will be stationed around the course to judge drivers signalling, positioning, etc.
Each driver’s run normally lasts 15–20 minutes. The buses carry passengers (but fares are not charged) as the competition vehicles may be used by drivers, their families and friends to travel between the Imperial Hotel and the starting point for the driving tests. The tests usually finish around 13.00, giving everyone a break for lunch while the results are compiled prior to the awards presentation in the Imperial Hotel at around 16.00.
Drivers gain points for successfully completing the tasks on the course or correctly answering questions in the theory test. However, penalty points will be applied for various infringements including, but not limited to:
Assistance from any person which could influence the performance of a competitor will lead to automatic disqualification from the competition.
For safety reasons spectators must not enter any part of the test area. Adults are requested to keep children under control whilst in the vicinity of any test areas.