Going 20 consecutive years without a scratch on your vehicle is not something a lot of us can say weB次元官网网址檝e done, but Sooke resident Betsy Lockwood can.

Lockwood has worked for B.C. Transit for 25 years, and on May 5, she received a Million Miler award during an event at Government House.

Recipients of B.C. TransitB次元官网网址檚 Million Miler Award are required to go 20 consecutive years of driving without a preventable accident, which B.C. Transit says is the approximately equal to driving a million miles safely without any incidents.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an incredible feeling to receive this award, I feel so proud,B次元官网网址� Lockwood said. B次元官网网址淚t is not an easy thing to do. If you have one little incident that could have been preventable, even if you went 17 years without any, youB次元官网网址檇 have to start over.B次元官网网址�

Lockwood was destined to pursue a job that had to do with driving.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always loved driving. Growing up I would tell people I wanted to be a race car driver,B次元官网网址� laughed Lockwood.

She moved to Sooke in the 1980s from Vancouver, where she worked in health care.

B次元官网网址淣ot too long after moving here, I saw an ad in the paper for a paramedic and thought, B次元官网网址榟ey that would be a good job for me because I could drive the ambulance around,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said.

Then in 1993, she decided to switch careers and got a job working with B.C. Transit, and hasnB次元官网网址檛 looked back.

Most of the routes she drives are in Victoria, but over the years she has also worked on the Sooke routes many times.

Now 65 years old, Lockwood hopes to retire within the next few years.

B次元官网网址淚 love my job, itB次元官网网址檚 given me a good life. In a way, IB次元官网网址檓 my own boss at work. I love the people I get to be around, and I really enjoy the driving,B次元官网网址� said Lockwood, adding that it was her goal to achieve the Million Miler Award.

With the award, she also received a jacket, a trophy with a transit bus on it, a certificate, a pin and a professional photos of herself in uniform.

The award was established in 1978, and has been presented to 155 B.C. Transit drivers in Victoria. Only one other person besides Lockwood received the award this year.

B次元官网网址淢arking 20-years of accident-free driving is an impressive achievement, especially given the complexities and skill involved in driving a transit bus,B次元官网网址� said Transportation Minister Claire Trevena.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to congratulate the recipients of this award and thank all the hard-working transit drivers who are committed to safety on the job.B次元官网网址�

editor@sookenewsmirror.com
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