What is Passenger Assistant Training?

PATS stands for Passenger Assistant Training Scheme. It has been developed out of MiDAS, the Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme. MiDAS is a nationally successful training programme developed in the early 1990’s for minibus drivers. The aim of both PATS and MiDAS is to improve safety standards for people who need assistance, care and supervision on the move.

PATS has been developed for those people who undertake the role of passenger assistant. The people we are calling passenger assistants are sometimes called escorts, passenger carers, care assistants, chaperones or helpers, or have similar job titles.

Passenger assistants work on various types of vehicles, depending on the needs of their passengers. The PATS programme is relevant for passenger assistants working in minicabs, taxis, minibuses and large buses.

Why do Passenger Assistant Training?

PATS will help passenger assistants improve their own and their passengers’ safety, help improve their passengers’ comfort, meet their legal and contractual responsibilities, understand and meet the needs of their passengers, develop additional skills and a wider knowledge of their work, increase their confidence at work and reduce any stress involved, enhance the image of their organisation, gain formal accreditation for the work they do.