April 15, 2002

Ottawa – Keep your eyes on the road. Concentrate. Never let your guard down. These are the most important tips to remember if you want to avoid an accident, and they come from senior OC Transpo bus operators who have some of the City’s best driving records.

Three operators who have all driven OC Transpo buses without an accident for 30 years were given special recognition yesterday at a reception at City Hall. Mayor Bob Chiarelli and Councillor Madeleine Meilleur, Chair of the Transportation and Transit Committee, also recognized OC Transpo employees who have reached accident-free milestones of 20 and 25 years.

"These operators deserve our congratulations and thanks for making the roads of our community that much safer and for guarding the safety of the many passengers they transport every day," said Councillor Meilleur. "It takes a lot of patience, skill, and a positive frame of mind to stay accident-free for so many years."

Reaching these milestones is not easy. In order to qualify, employees must spend at least one thousand hours on the road each and every year, without getting into an accident. They brave all kinds of weather and traffic conditions every day.

Operator Marcel Pilon attributes his 30-year accident-free record to driving defensively. "Everyone has close calls," he said, "but with a bit of luck and by always thinking ahead, you can stay out of collisions."

This year, three operators reached the 30-year accident-free milestone, thirty-eight reached the 25-year milestone and thirty-five reached the 20-year milestone. In all, OC Transpo has more than 340 bus operators who have been driving accident-free for more than 20 years.