The National Safety Council and the U.S. Postal Service recently recognized two mail carriers from the Verona Post Office for their safe driving records.

The NSC Million Mile Award is given to drivers who complete either 1 million miles of driving or 30 years of driving without a preventable accident.

William Navari, 61, and Stephen Zagorski, 62, both of Penn Hills, celebrated the accomplishment with co-workers, family and friends on May 30 at the Verona Post Office along Allegheny River Boulevard.

They each also received 30-year postal service awards.

Bryan Boyer, head postmaster of the Verona Post Office, spoke highly of both men.

“William and Stephen are great examples of how to do your job the right way and to always put safety first,” Boyer said.

Receiving the award helped both men realize the extent of the milestone.

“It was special to me because it showed that I took my job seriously, and I always put my training into good use. I was a defensive driver most of all,” Zagorski said.

Navari credits his father for teaching him a few tricks of the trade.

“My dad was a letter carrier, too, and with the mail trucks being rear-wheel drive, you kind of must drive them differently. For instance, going down a hill in the snow, you should put it in neutral instead of low gear,” Navari said.

Navari shared a few other tips.

“I always try to just take one extra second before pulling out. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve waited that extra second and then a car would come by that I wouldn’t have seen,” Navari said.

Navari said he always expects other drivers to do their worst.

“I even tell my kids when I teach them to drive, you must expect that the other driver is going to do something really dumb. That way, when it happens you aren’t surprised,” Navari said.

While Navari plans to wait one more year to retire, Zagorski is hanging up his keys to the mail truck at the end of June.

“The biggest thing is leaving all the people that I’ve gotten to know over the years. Now that people know I’m retiring, they are making it even harder on me,” Zagorski joked. “I’ve watched some of these kids grow up and graduate high school.”

And don’t believe the old adage about mail carriers not liking pets.

Navari said the hardest part when he finally retires will be leaving all the dogs on his route that he has grown to love since they were puppies.

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