LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Feb. 24, 2012) BUSINESS WIRE – UPS (NYSE:UPS) this week announced 20 elite drivers from Kentucky are among 1,235 newly inducted worldwide into the Circle of Honor, an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving.

“To go at least a quarter century without an accident is a testament to the pride they take in their work and to the training they receive. My thanks go to all of them for the countless lives they’ve saved.”

Kentucky boasts 101 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 2,859 years of accident-free driving. Cleveland Francis of Louisville is Kentucky’s senior safe driver, with 42 years of accident-free driving under his belt, tying him for fifth best safe driving record among UPS’s 102,000 drivers. There are 1,514 total UPS drivers in Kentucky.

Globally, 5,842 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they’ve racked up 161,746 years and more than 5.3 billion safe miles during their careers, or the equivalent of circling the earth more than 212,000 times.

The number of new inductees represents the largest increase in new members in a single year in the company’s history.

“I’m very proud of these men and women,” said Zachary Scott, president, UPS Ohio Valley District. “To go at least a quarter century without an accident is a testament to the pride they take in their work and to the training they receive. My thanks go to all of them for the countless lives they’ve saved.”

Nationally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Ron Sowder of UPS’s Ohio Valley District, with 50 years of driving without an accident. Thomas Camp of the Great Lakes District is next in line with 49 years of safe driving. Twenty-seven others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.

UPS’s 102,000 drivers are among the safest on the roads, logging more than 3 billion miles a year and averaging less than one accident for every million miles driven.

UPS invested $175 million in 2011 on safety training and employs its own comprehensive driving course called “Space and Visibility.” All UPS drivers are taught safe driving methods beginning on the first day of classroom training through the company’s defensive driving platform. The training continues throughout their careers.

Founded in 1907, UPS has a rich history of safety and training. The company issued its first driver handbook in 1917 and began recognizing safe drivers in 1923. In 1928, UPS recognized its first five-year safe driver, Ray McCue, with UPS founder Jim Casey presenting him a gold and platinum watch. UPS formally established the Circle of Honor in 1955.

More information on UPS’s commitment to safety is available at http://www.pressroom.ups.com/safety.

UPS (NYSE:UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com and its corporate blog can be found at blog.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.