Can you imagine driving 70 years without an accident? No fender benders, no mailbox topplings, no intersection collisions, no icy slides into ditches, no distracted driving. No accidents at all. Not one. Ever.

The other day, two UPS drivers—Rudy Morgan and Randall Mastin—both from Virginia, retired. Between them, they had driven professionally, day in and day out, for more than 70 years without an accident. If driving safely could make you rich and famous, these two guys would be rock stars. 

Most people believe they are above average drivers. In a variety of surveys when people are asked about their driving skills, most people check the above average box. Sometimes they even bold it, check it twice or put in an exclamation mark or two.

I guess I am not most people; I’m not checking that box. I would like to believe that I’m at least an average driver. But above average? No.

I work with people who are not only above average, but who are exceptional drivers — those folks in the brown trucks, UPS drivers. Their professionalism and safety records constantly remind me that I am not above average when I’m behind the wheel and that I need to keep improving to be a better driver.

“Expect the unexpected” is the advice I most hear from these drivers who reach the UPS Circle of Honor, 25 years or more of safe driving. So by heeding their advice and not overestimating my abilities, I can be a safer driver. Maybe someday I will even be confident enough to check that above average driver box.