AA DriveTech goes on the buses

The commercial driver training arm of the AA - AA DriveTech – is proud to have been awarded the Transport for London [TfL] contract to provide an ongoing assessment programme of London bus drivers. This function was previously carried out by the Driving Standards Agency.

The programme objectives are to improve driving standards and passenger comfort by enabling bus operators to act on objective reports about driver attitude and behaviour, as observed by experienced AA DriveTech assessors. AA DriveTech has unrivalled experience of this type of work, carrying out in excess of 50,000 driver assessments annually for a wide range of organisations in both the public and private sectors.

All the covert assessments will be carried out using identical criteria and reporting mechanisms to ensure consistency throughout the programme. The contract will run for an initial three year period.

“AA DriveTech recognises the necessity for, and importance of, impartial, independent and consistent assessment of bus drivers,” says Jason Vallint, AA DriveTech’s Business Development Director. “Given the enormity of the Driver Quality Monitoring task in London, created by the myriad of routes, bus operating companies and thousands of professional bus drivers, AA DriveTech provides the necessary confidence for industry stakeholders and passengers that the standard of both bus assessment and driving in London will be maintained and ultimately raised.”

In the first six weeks of the contract AA DriveTech has conducted over 1000 of the anonymous driver assessments and aims to complete over 7,500 by the commencement of the London Olympics.

More information about AA DriveTech’s Commercial and Passenger Vehicle Division and its extensive range of services applicable to those who drive or manage bus and coach fleets can be obtained from www.aadrivetech.com.