U.s. postal service 'million mile drivers' offer safe driving tipsfor memorial day weekend

Be courteous, use turn signals and obey all laws. Keep your options open -- have a 'what do I do if I'm cut off'strategy. Turn off mobile devices when driving -- no cell phones or texting. How do they do it? "We place the safety of our employees as our top priority," said Deborah Giannoni-Jackson , vice president, Employee Resource Management. "And we credit ourcomprehensive safe driver training program as being second tonone." According to the National Safety Council, nearly 7,100 postalemployees have achieved a unique distinction most of us neverapproach in a lifetime -- driving more than a million,accident-free miles.

No other business comes close. The nation's 31,000 plus Post Offices are linked by nearly 214,000vehicles -- the world's largest civilian fleet. As one of America'slast vestiges to make house calls, 297,000 letter carriers andtruck drivers log more than 1.2 billion miles annually whendelivering to America's 151.5 million addresses. Since 2005, 7,065 postal professionals have each driven more than amillion miles without a single accident thru 2011.

Reaching thispinnacle requires 30 years of service and a safe attitude. Tips from a few Million Milers For Orchard Park NY City Carrier Nancy Pillard, with almost 33years on the job, safety starts before she even takes to thestreets. "I make sure my vehicle is in complete operative conditionevery day," she said. "I identify and report repair work forlights, tires, wipers and mirrors and I then make sure that therepairs are done ASAP." Five Points Station, Akron, OH , Letter Carrier Pat Betts has driven 34 years without apreventable motor vehicle accident. For his accomplishments, Bettsjoined the Million Mile Club.

"I am proud of this recognition,"Betts said. "I've learned to slow down with my driving as I havesenior citizens on my route and businesses that generate a lot oftraffic. I use my turn signals. You just have to pay attention atall times, and a little luck helps too." Orchard Park, NY City Carrier Ron Reukauf started his postal carrier in 1978, butalso has a few years of personal driving under his seat belt.

His40 years of driving experience has provided him with some soundpractices and wisdom. "I've found myself adopting three theories onsafety which have helped me so far," said Reukauf. "They are:'Expect the unexpected;' 'Any distraction can put you in traction;'and 'Safety first, never last. Have a future, not a past." Norway, SC Rural Carrier, Dwain Fogle has driven 32 years with a perfect driving safety record--justlike his father. Bryan Fogle , Dwain's dad, delivered mail in Neeses and Orangeburg, SC , during his 41-year career.

He earned the award before retiring in1998. Dwain delivers to 452 boxes along 92.5 miles of highway and35 miles of dirt roads in his right-hand drive jeep. Dwain creditshis dad with teaching him to be respectful of others. "I've beentaught as a child to be courteous.

I think being courteous to eachother is the main thing when you're on the road," he said. Safe Driving Habits Start with Good Training Driving for the Postal Service is a privilege that requires alldrivers to demonstrate safe driving practices throughout theircareers. Behind-the-wheel job candidates undergo a rigorousscreening, training and certification process to earn credentialsto operate a right-hand drive postal vehicle. After a review of state driving records, candidates undergo athorough medical examination and an extensive interview process.They then take a web-based four-hour defensive driving trainingcourse, followed by a one-hour defensive driving debrief conductedby driver safety instructors who reinforce key safe driving topicscovered in the web-based course. Candidates then become familiar with the vehicle throughbehind-the-wheel training in a mock driving course.

The skillscourse acclimates candidates to driving postal vehicles undervarious conditions on an "off-road" course that simulates streetconditions. Their performance is evaluated on a final drive priorto becoming certified to operate postal vehicles. Information on the National Safety Council's Safe Driver Program islocated at NSC USPS . Questions can be directed to National Safety Council CustomerRelations at 1-800-621-7619 or uspsawards@nsc.org.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses,and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fundits operations. A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service isthe only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation,151 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. ThePostal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, andrelies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund itsoperations.

With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequentlyvisited website in the federal government, usps.com , the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world's mail. If it were aprivate sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 35th inthe 2011 Fortune 500. In 2011, the U.S.

Postal Service was rankednumber one in overall service performance, out of the top 20wealthiest nations in the world, Oxford Strategic Consulting. Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines ranked the Postal Service as a leader in workforcediversity. The Postal Service has been named the Most TrustedGovernment Agency for six years and the sixth Most Trusted Businessin the nation by the Ponemon Institute.

The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Teflon Ptfe Sheet , Ptfe O-rings Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit Teflon Ptfe Sheet today!

Related Articles - Teflon Ptfe Sheet, Ptfe O-rings Manufacturer,

Email this Article to a Friend! Receive Articles like this one direct to your email box! Subscribe for free today!