SANTA ANA — On Friday, January 31, 2020, city letter carrier Teresa Dahl will not only be saying her ‘goodbyes’ to her co-workers, she will also be honored at a special ceremony for reaching a remarkable accomplishment of driving one million miles without so much as a fender-bender.

For most drivers, luck would play a role in driving accident-free for 30 years.  However, Dahl will be the first to tell you it’s not a matter of luck; it’s a matter of taking the time to drive safely no matter how much of a hurry other people are in.

Now imagine the equivalent of driving 334 times across the country or 40 times around the globe each without ever leaving the city limits, and imagine doing it safely, under hazardous road conditions, gridlock, rural terrain, and with a vigilant eye on inattentive drivers.

As a result of her achievement, she will be presented with a plaque from the Safety Council and automatic membership in the prestigious National Safety Council “Million Mile Club” on Friday, 8:00 a.m. at Diamond Station Post Office, 1517 Greenville St., Santa Ana, CA 92704. The million-mile award is a lifetime enrollment, and it is given to drivers who have accumulated one-million miles or 30 years 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.

Dahl has always been safety conscious throughout her postal career and was highly recommended to spearhead safety training for carriers. “You are your most important delivery - making sure you get home every night is your number one priority!” she tells the carriers.

As a carrier for 34 years, she has many memories of her street delivery encounters and has developed amazing friendships with her customers.  But what she will miss the most will be her coworkers and the postal family that she has known for over 30 years.

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