Bart Murray has been on the road for 34 years as a UPS driver. He’s traveled 3 million miles in his career and he’s done it without any accidents. For all those years Murray has driven without an accident, he will receive the Safe Driver of the Year Award representing UPS at an awards banquet in New Orleans in October.

“I started driving for UPS in 1987 after working during the peak season in December,” said Murray. “If you do well they'll hire you on. I worked for 14 days and they hired me.”

UPS is strong on safety, he said. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren't for the company’s safe work methods. A lot of places emphasize the importance of safety, but UPS teaches safety.”

Murray said he looks at the big picture and he gives these tips. “You have to know what’s going on around you. Learn how to avoid situations. When you’re changing lanes you don’t have to slam on your brakes. You don’t have to react.”

It can be stressful, he said. “You have to keep a level head. Don’t let things other drivers do upset you.”

Don’t get in a hurry, said Murray. “Prepare for what is coming down the road. Don’t overlook things that need to be done. Don’t drive out of your comfort zone, that’s when you have problems. If there’s a bad storm, drive in control of the situation as best you can to get through it.”

Murray said he doesn’t drive much during the week when he’s not on the job. “My wife and I like to go to Delta to watch the snow geese. We enjoy the scenes. Utah has some beautiful country at different times of the year. We drive a lot of backroads. It’s amazing when you get off the freeway the beautiful things you see.”

In order to be selected for the award, a driver must have at least 15 consecutive years, or 250,000 consecutive miles driven without a preventable accident. “I was very surprised,” said Murray of the award. “This is the first year UPS has been a participant in the Safety Council. Only 10 drivers across the U.S. and Canada were selected and nine of those were UPS drivers. That says something about the safety at UPS.”

Over the years he’s been driving he attributes his good safety record to something one of his fellow drivers told him. “‘Picture a full cup of coffee on your dashboard – whatever you do, don't spill that coffee,’” Murray said. “That drives home the point to avoid quick erratic moves in traffic.”

Murray said he has a job to do and he goes out and does it. “I plan to get done and come home to my family at the end of the day.”