A bus driver from Cirencester has seen off competition from 600 colleagues, to be crowned as Stagecoach West's safest driver. Michael Godfrey is officially the company's Best in the West.

Michael said: "I love my job and I love meeting people. I'm really chuffed to have been picked as the best driver in the West."

Rachel Geliamassi, Operations Director at Stagecoach West, said: "The winners are drivers who have driven in the safest, most comfortable way over the course of 2017. We have a best in each depot, with the lowest safety score, and an overall champion. Michael Godfrey is a fantastic guy, the best in West."

Michael achieved the lowest score across the region, at 0.23. He was given a certificate and vouchers to mark his achievement as the driver with the best safety score in the West.

All of Stagecoach West's 270 buses now use the Ecodriver behaviour system to encourage smoother and safer driving. The system uses a traffic-light LED device on the dashboard, which gives drivers immediate feedback on their manoeuvres. As well as ensuring smoother driving, it helps Stagecoach West reduce its CO2 emissions by three per cent a year.

Rachel said: "EcoDriver interprets everything the driver does and makes sure the driver drives green. This means the driver has to be smoother - more careful with braking, cornering and handling - giving customers a much better passenger experience. It's really fuel efficient and the passengers love it."

Each of Stagecoach West's depots has its own local winner, who also received vouchers and a certificate for safe driving. They are:

• Nicholas Edwards of Cheltenham Depot with a score of 0.37

• David Cox of Gloucester Depot with a score of 0.38

• Robert Stacey of Stroud Depot with a score of 0.96

Michael Godfrey is based at Swindon Depot.

To support the Ecodriver system, drivers also complete a Safe, Skilled and Fuel Efficient Driver programme as part of their training.

Stagecoach West employs 740 staff across Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Herefordshire, including around 600 drivers. It carried 24.6 million passengers in 2016-17, travelling 12.5 million miles.

Stagecoach is one of the UK's biggest bus and coach operators, with around 8,500 buses and coaches running from the South-West of England through to the Highlands and Island of Scotland. It is also a big player in the US and Canada and employs around 40,000 people worldwide, operating around 13,000 buses, coaches, trains and trams.

Contact Stagecoach West at www.stagecoachbus.com or on 01452 418630.

Picture caption: Stagecoach Drivers Awards 2018 (LtoR) Michael Godfrey, Best in the West winner and Rachel Geliamassi, Operations Director. (top)

Nicholas Edward, Best in the Cheltenham winner. (second)

David Cox, Best in the Gloucester winner. (third)

Robert Stacey, Best in the Stroud winner. (bottom)