Durham transit drivers honoured for safe driving milestones

By Courtney Bachar/The Oshawa Express/LJI Reporter

Some Durham Region Transit (DRT) bus drivers are being recognized for their hard work and safe driving in the community.

DRT recently recognized 30 bus operators with the Safe Driver Award for their dedication and ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of passengers and the public, according to DRT.

“For 2019, these 30 dedicated and professional individuals have driven a combined 290 years and approximately 12.5 million kilometres without a preventable collision,” says DRT Deputy General Manager Jamie Austin, noting more than 11 million customers travelled with DRT, “which further highlights the level of commitment to their craft that is required to achieve these milestones in the midst of so much activity of potential distractions both inside and outside the bus.”

The Safe Driver Awards, established in 2015, publicly honours DRT operators who have achieved safe driving milestones of five, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years without a single preventable collision.

“The benchmarks of the program are highly respected throughout the transit industry, representing a level of excellence we should all strive for, and a true testament to the professionalism and dedication to our operators,” says General Manager Bill Holmes.

This year, 12 operators have achieved five years of safe driving, 11 drivers have 10 years, three drivers have 15 years, one driver has 20 years, two drivers have 25 years, and one driver, Ray Kelly, was recognized for 30 years of safe driving.

Kelly began his career as a school bus driver in 1988, also driving a bit for GO transit, before transferring to Whitby Transit, where he remained for nine months.

“I heard Oshawa Transit was hiring so the next day I was in line with a few other workers to hand in my resume,” says Kelly. “I was lucky enough to get the opportunity for the interview, then the job, and then the fun started.”

Kelly started with Oshawa Transit in 1990, noting transit looked very different then.

“There were only 68 drivers. We were driving old GM buses with no power steering, no power brakes, no air ride seats, no air conditioning,” he says.

Dealing with the public is one of Kelly’s favourite aspects of the job.

“I’ve made some good friends along the way, both fellow employees and people that rode the bus,” he says.

Kelly also joined the occupational health and safety committee, where is stayed for 20 years before getting involved with driver training in 2008.

“I enjoy the driver training because I can witness people building skills right from the first day they operate the bus – the nervousness, how they get more comfortable – then when they pass their practical road test and obtain their CZ license, the smile on their face and how happy they are… that’s neat,” he says.

Kelly says he enjoys being able to recognize all the other drivers for reaching the safe driving milestones.

“Having the opportunity to hand all these drivers at these plateaus their yearly safety awards and hearing a little appreciation… I think they all feel pretty good about it,” he says.