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HART OPERATORS BECOME MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL'S PRESTIGIOUS MILLION MILE CLUB

June 23, 1999 - Tampa, Florida - Twenty-two Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) bus operators became members of the prestigious National Safety Council "Million Mile Club". An additional three bus operators have joined the "Two Million Mile Club".

To qualify for membership in these clubs, bus operators must have driven the respective distances with no chargeable accidents. Driving one million miles calculates as 25,000 safe driving hours, typically taking 13 years of driving as a full-time career to accomplish. Two million miles calculates as 50,000 safe driving hours.

The operators honored at a special recognition award banquet sponsored by the Tampa Area Safety Council recently were:

One Million Mile Club

Two Million Mile Club

"The recognition HART has received as a safe transit system requires the commitment of employees throughout the Authority, " said Sharon Dent, Executive Director for HART. "Recently we have had a total of 25 employees honored with this achievement. But it also takes the professional skill of our mechanics, schedulers, training departments and many others to really make safety a key commitment."

All HART bus operators are required to attend an extensive seven-week training course that follows guidelines established by the Transportation Safety Institute bus operator training program. Throughout training, student operators are able to be tested for and obtain the required Florida State Commercial Drivers License (CDL), Class B, with the "P" passenger endorsement. In addition to standard operating procedures, all bus operators are trained in how to deliver high quality customer service and to enhance passenger relations.

All HART operators must each day complete a pre-trip inspection report that is turned in before beginning their routes. This inspection includes checking all major systems such as brakes, lights, tires, suspension, engine transmission, steering, body condition, doors, all electronics, air-conditioning and the wheelchair lift. The reports are gathered and reviewed daily by HART maintenance staff, and any problems detected are then repaired.

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority provides transportation service in Hillsborough County, including the City of Tampa, the City of Temple Terrace and portions of unincorporated Hillsborough County via more than 40 bus routes. All HART buses are air conditioned and accessible to people with disabilities.