TEXARKANA, Texas - For local letter carrier Joe Davidson, safety is as important as delivering the mail.
The National Safety Council recently honored Davidson for driving 2 million miles without a preventable vehicle accident, a rare achievement in the U.S. Postal Service that has never before happened in Texarkana.
Staying alert, being safety-conscious and knowing your surroundings at all times are the keys to Davidson's remarkable safety record, he said.
"We see it all out there delivering the mail. Dogs, people cutting you off, people being distracted and not paying attention. Just because you see a blinker doesn't mean that vehicle operator is going to turn.
"Safety is just as important as delivering the mail. We all want to go home to be with our families at the end of the day," Davidson said.
Davidson began his postal career in July 1977 in La Marque, Texas, north of Galveston.
"To reach the 1 Million Mile Award without any accidents within the U.S. Postal Service is a huge accomplishment, but Joe reached the 2 Million Mile Award by driving 45 years without having a single accident. I can honestly say there's nobody more deserving of this honor," said Texarkana Postmaster Chad Stansbury, who has known Davidson for more than 15 years.
It is all part of a career he loves, Davidson said.
"The safety part is easy when you love what you do and you love serving the people with the right attitude," he said.