3 Howell Postal Carriers Reach 1 Million Accident-Free Miles

HOWELL, NJ — U.S. Postal Service carriers are always said to deliver the mail despite rain, snow, sleet and hail. Driving in those conditions isn't the easiest thing to accomplish.

Three mail carriers from the Howell Township post office, however, have managed to drive in all kinds of conditions and rack up 1 million miles without an accident in the process, the U.S. Postal Service announced.

The three carriers — Edward Eldridge, Beth Bartell and Rural Carrier Doug Kuegler — were honored at a ceremony last week at the Howell Post Office, officials said.

"Safe driving is no accident," said James Drummer, South Jersey district manager. "The safety of our employees is our top priority, and we are proud that our comprehensive safe driver training program is second to none."

Among the rules they adhere to:

• Drive defensively — expect the unexpected.
• Maintain a safe distance of one car length for every 10 mph between you and the car in front of you.
• Be courteous, use turn signals and obey all laws.
• Keep your options open — have a "what to do if I’m cut off" strategy.
• Turn off mobile devices when driving — no cell phones or texting.

According to the National Safety Council, more than 9,500 Postal Service employees have achieved this distinction since 2005, something most people never approach in their lifetimes. Reaching this pinnacle requires a safe attitude that entails driving 1 million miles or 30 years without a preventable incident.

The nation’s 31,000 plus Post Offices are linked by nearly 214,000 vehicles — the world’s largest civilian fleet. More than 300,000 letter carriers and truck drivers log more than 1.2 billion miles annually when delivering to America’s 158 million addresses.

The Postal Service requires drivers to demonstrate safe-driving practices throughout their careers. Behind-the-wheel job candidates undergo a rigorous screening, training and certification process to earn credentials to operate a right-hand drive postal vehicle.

After a review of state driving records, candidates undergo a thorough medical examination and an extensive interview process. They then take a web-based 4-hour defensive driving training course, followed by a 1-hour defensive driving debrief conducted by driver safety instructors who reinforce key safe-driving topics covered in the web-based course.

Candidates then become familiar with the vehicle through behind-the-wheel training on a mock driving course. The skills course acclimates candidates to driving postal vehicles under various conditions on an ‘off-road’course that simulates street conditions. Their performance is evaluated on a final drive prior to becoming certified to operate Postal Service vehicles.

Information on the National Safety Council’s Safe Driver Program is located at www.nsc.org/usps. Questions can be directed to National Safety Council Customer Relations at 1-800-621-7619 or uspsawards@nsc.org.

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