In advance of the 2024 National Final of the UK Bus Driver of the Year (BDoY) competition on 1 September, Richard Walter attended Lothian’s annual Bus Driver of the Year final at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston near Edinburgh on Tuesday 28 May, and Jonathan Welch reports on some of the other companies taking part
It’s August again, and the end of the month brings the arrival of this year’s Bus Driver of the Year competition, which as always is traditionally held on the first weekend of September. Operators around the country continue to support the event and its aims to promote better and safer driving across the industry, with drivers competing for numerous trophies and some significant prize money, and this year is no exception. One operator which regularly sends entrants is Lothian Buses.
This year, 17 finalists from across the Lothian Group (comprising Lothian; East Coast Buses; Lothian Country; Edinburgh Bus Tours and the recently acquired Eve Coaches) competed on what started off dry but turned into a very wet and miserable day, excelling in three specially-designed challenges – a theory test, a practical road driving test and an obstacle course.
Thomas Gilhooley of East Coast Buses took first place overall, with Gary Black and John O’Hara, of Lothian’s Airlink and Longstone depot teams respectively, making up the remainder of the podium.
Lothian will now send the winners as its representatives to the UK Bus Driver of the Year Final in Blackpool, hoping to go one better than last year’s incredible result, when two of the award-winning operator’s drivers finished in the top three.
The local event was not only an enjoyable if nerve-wracking day for the contestants and their families, but was also a great opportunity for staff, managers and Lothian’s stakeholders to network and for its catering department to excel with providing refreshments.
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