SACRAMENTO — Many drivers might say fortune and luck play a role in driving accident-free for 30 years. For Terry White, Guy MacGregor, Andrea Minchuk, Alejandro Love, Rick Boyd, Louis James and Kurt White from Sacramento’s Royal Oaks Post Office, they know it’s neither fortune nor luck; it’s a matter of driving defensively and recognizing hazardous situations.

These U.S. Postal Service carriers have each driven enough miles on their city delivery routes to equal one million miles or enough to circle the globe more than 40 times each. Their achievement did not go unnoticed. They were inducted into the elite “Million Mile Club on March 19 at the Royal Oaks Post Office, 2000 Royal Oaks Drive, Sacramento CA 95813.

“Our Postal Service drivers are among the safest in the world,” said Sacramento Postmaster Jagdeep Grewal. “The achievement of driving that many miles for so many years, and accident-free, is truly remarkable. These carriers are a testament to how our carriers continue to deliver on the promise of delivering their best every day with care, courtesy and concern for the safety of others.”

When asked about their impressive records, the letter carriers had a few safety tips to share: “Defensive driving – do not assume anything,” said White. “Driving safely protects all lives,” said Minchuk. Love stated, “If you are not sitting on the seat, the engine must be off.” “Never be in a hurry, and watch out for the other person,” said James.

Sacramento District Manager Jeffrey C. Lelevich and Royal Oaks Station Manager Harry Centeno presented each carrier with a jacket, a plaque and certificate from the National Safety Council and USPS Safe Driver Award Program.

The million-mile award is a lifetime enrollment and is given to drivers who have accumulated one million miles of driving without being involved in a preventable motor vehicle accident. According to the National Safety Council, it takes approximately 30 years to accumulate one million miles.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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