DETROIT – UPS has announced that 57 elite drivers from Michigan are among 1,445 newly inducted worldwide into the Circle of Honor.

Locally, the honor was given to Chris Clash of Kingsford, who works for the Iron Mountain UPS Center.

The Circle of Honor is an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving.

Michigan boasts 251 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 7,015 years of accident-free driving. Thomas Camp of Livonia is the state’s senior safe driver, with 52 years of accident-free driving under his belt, ranking him the safest driver among UPS’s 102,000 drivers. There are 2,894 total UPS drivers in Michigan.

Globally, 7,878 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor.

Collectively they’ve racked up more than 221,000 years and more than 5.3 billion safe miles during their careers. That’s enough miles to travel to Mars and back 36 times.

“My thanks go to all of them for their dedication and focus, and for the countless lives they’ve saved,” said Stefan Wilson, president, UPS Great Lakes District.

Globally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Thomas Camp of Livonia, with 52 years of driving without an accident. Ronald McKnight of Bronx, N.Y., is next in line with 46 years of safe driving.

Sixty-two 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 delivering more than 4 billion packages safely.

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 its safe driving honor program in 1928.