City honours OC Transpo operators for milestones in safe driving

In recognition of their distinguished safe-driving records and commitment to providing safe and reliable service to customers, 47 OC Transpo bus operators received Safe Driving Awards today from Mayor Jim Watson, City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick, and John Manconi, General Manager of Transit Services.

“Every year, we are proud to recognize OC Transpo operators who have remained collision-free for significant numbers of years,” said Mayor Watson. “We rely on these employees for their expertise and professionalism, and we thank them for their continued commitment to the safety and well-being of our residents.”

The annual OC Transpo Safe Driving Awards recognize operators who have reached milestones in safe driving during the previous calendar year: 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years, as well as each year over 40 years. The recipients for 2014 include 7 operators who celebrated more than 35 years of collision-free driving, and one operator who reached an impressive milestone of 43 years of collision-free driving.

“OC Transpo operators provide more than 97 million passenger trips every year while facing daily challenges that can include traffic congestion, inclement weather, road construction, detours and emergency situations,” said Councillor Stephen Blais, Chair of the Transit Commission. “Our operators are dedicated to getting our residents and visitors to their destinations safely, no matter what the day brings.”

To qualify for a Safe Driving Award, operators must drive a bus in service for at least 1,000 collision-free hours in a year. One thousand collision-free hours for a bus operator is comparable to an Ottawa resident driving their car for a minimum of 35,000 kilometres on city streets, accident-free, in one year.

“Everybody at OC Transpo makes it a priority to ensure the safety and security of our customers and Ottawa residents. The Safe Driving Awards provide an annual opportunity to recognize the exceptional work of our operators,” said John Manconi, General Manager of Transit Services. “It is an honour to show our respect for their outstanding commitment to customer safety and service excellence.”