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Press Release

AC TRANSIT HONORS 11 BUS OPERATORS WITH THE SAFE DRIVING AWARD

AC TRANSIT HONORS 11 BUS OPERATORS WITH THE SAFE DRIVING AWARD

March 23,2023

The awardees represent an astounding 295 years of combined safe driving service

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) is proud to announce the 2022 recipients of the Safe Driving Award. AC Transit established the Safe Driving Award to recognize Bus Operators who have maintained a minimum of five years safe driving with no preventable accidents.

Receiving this award is a significant achievement for our transit safety professionals. Anyone who lives or even visited the San Francisco Bay Area's East Bay understands that AC Transit Bus Operators navigate scores of challenges while safely maneuvering coaches that start at 40-foot-long, 11-feet-high, and nearly 31,000 pounds: all the while maintaining a timed schedule and avoiding unpredictable behavior from others sharing the road.

This year 11 Bus Operators with an astounding 295 years of combined safe driving service were honored.

  • Lomax Binion, 20 Years
  • Deborah Scarbrough, 20 Years
  • Tony Simington, 20 Years
  • Cheryl Brown, 20 Years
  • Rogelio Barrientos, 20 Years
  • William Collins, 25 Years
  • Michael Winston, 30 Years
  • Claudia Waters, 35 Years
  • Ricardo Perez, 35 Years
  • Tejinder Brar, 35 Years
  • Jerry Strong, 35 Years

Unquestionably, the Berkeley Hills are equal parts majestic views and treacherous narrow roadway, but AC Transit Bus Operators get you safely to the vistas. The Bay Bridge toll plaza is often less about traffic mitigation, but for some local drivers, it is a call akin to NASCAR's 'start your engine.' Still, AC Transit Bus Operators are behind the wheel of the preferred transit into San Francisco. When more than 40,000 children require safe and reliable access to East Bay schools each academic day, our Bus Operators offer parents an additional measure of assurance.

Our combined Bus Operator staff are not only frontline ambassadors, offering a friendly welcome while boarding, but have performed countless acts of heroism for the 16.9 million riders who boarded our coaches this past fiscal year.

These 11 Safe Driving Award honorees represent more than 1000 AC Transit Bus Operators, whose ability to drive safely year-round is nothing short of remarkable.

We encourage all riders and the communities we serve to return to transit, seek out this year’s winners and offer a heartfelt “thank you and congratulations!”