Peter Pan Driver Achieves National Recognition

Springfield - Peter Pan driver Edward Hope, of Enfield, Connecticut has been named "Driver of the Year" in the Scheduled Route Division at the 70th Annual Conference and Meeting of the Trailways Transportation System in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Trailways bases annual driver honors on demonstrated professionalism and documented safe performance records. Criteria include miles driven; number of preventable accidents; work attendance; and, unsolicited passenger, employer, and customer testimonials.

The award was based on 2005, when Hope completed his 36th year of accident-free driving, becoming the first Massachusetts motorcoach operator to achieve three million miles of safe, accident-free driving, according to officials at the National Safety Council.

Hope began his intercity bus-driving career with Continental Trailways where he spent 18 years without an accident. In 1986, Hope joined Peter Pan and has never had an accident since.

During his tenure with Peter Pan, he has received the company's highest honor, the Peter C. Picknelly Founder's Award for excellence and the Mrs. Picknelly, Sr. Award - Driver of the Year, and is the company"s only three million mile accident-free driver.

According to Bill Steele, Trailways Chairman of the Board, "As we enter our 71st year as this nation's premier organization of independent motorcoach owners and operators, we are delighted to recognize these companies and individuals who have upheld exemplary Trailways safety and performance standards for transportation services. These honored recipients present an industry standard."

Trailways, founded in 1936, represents North America's first organization supporting, promoting, and assisting independent motorcoach owners & operators. The organization aggressively pursues new marketing- business- and global- alliance opportunities for its member-operator network; and, provides travelers with a variety of transportation connections for all their travel-related needs.