Manchester bus drivers chosen for national award

Three bus drivers from Greater Manchester have been short listed for the UK Bus Driver of the Year competition.

Zakir Patel and Terence Jackson from Bolton and Judith Dale from Wigan, who drive for First, will represent the company at a national level after winning the top three places in Manchester’s Driver of the Year competition.

All three have an excellent driving record, with no faults recorded in the previous 12 months, and have passed a tough covert driving assessment conducted by a driving instructor. To qualify for the national competition they also passed a series of demanding tests and driving exercises, including manoeuvring the bus through a ‘snake’ of traffic cones, and a Highway Code knowledge test.

Speaking after the Manchester competition, Zakir who won Manchester’s Driver of the Year, said: “It feels great to win the title. I have done well on the driving skills section in previous years and this year I have worked hard for the Highway Code test.”

Presenting the Manchester winner’s awards, Bob Mason, Service Delivery Director for First bus services in Greater Manchester said: “We believe each of our 2009 winners stand a good chance of success in the UK Bus Driver of the Year competition. I wish the drivers every success in September.”

The National Driver of the Year Finals takes place at Blackpool on the 5th and 6th of September.