- November 25, 2024
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Carl Forster spends his working hours driving on A1A.
For about the last six years, Forster, of Ormond Beach, has had the chance to transport locals and tourists along Votran route 1, which goes from the transfer plaza at Daytona Beach to Silver Beach Ave., and all the way up to Bass Drive in Ormond-by-the-Sea. He believes it's the best route of all; he gets to see the ocean every day.
Because of his route, Forster is known to some as A1A Carl, a nickname he laughs off in good humor.
“I just enjoy driving," Forster said. "I enjoy helping people. It’s just a great job.”
Forster is one of 20 drivers with Volusia County's public transit sytem who earned a safe driving award this year by the National Safety Council, a nonprofit safety advocate organization. According to a recent county press release, the criteria includes a minimum of 15 years or 250,000 consecutive miles driven without a preventable collision. The recognition of these bus drivers "was even more impressive given the additional considerations and responsibilities of serving the riding public in the age of COVID-19," the press release states.
“Having this many award recipients is indicative of how many excellent employees we have,” said Elizabeth Suchsland, Votran’s assistant general manager of operations and maintenance, in the press release. “Even with all that’s going on, our drivers are out there providing not only a safer health environment, but also a safe physical experience riding public transit with Votran. These awards were extremely well-deserved.”
For Forster, safety is the most important thing to keep in mind as a Votran driver. It's ingrained in their training, he said.
Like many, one of his pet peeves is seeing people texting and driving on the road. He sees it constantly.
"You really have to be careful, because people are just driving everywhere — in front of you, around you, in your lanes," Forster said. "It can be scary sometimes, but I try to make the best of it and constantly be alert. You have to be on your toes at all times.”
Regarding safety during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Forster said all drivers are wearing masks, buses are being sanitized often and passengers are practicing social distancing. Everything so far has run smoothly, he said.
Forster has lived in Ormond since 1988. He never saw himself driving a bus for a living, and got started after he saw an ad in the newspaper that Votran was hiring. That was 26 years ago.
Over the years, he's had the chance to meet new people and hear their stories. He also has plenty of regulars, some of which fall asleep on the bus from time to time. When that happens, Forster makes sure to wake them up at their stop.
And when he's not working, Forster likes to exercise, garden and spend time with his wife of 30 years, Andrea, whom he's known since he was 13 years old.
Forster is the only Ormond Beach resident among the 20 drivers who earned the National Safety Council award. The recognition was an honor.
“It felt good, you know, to accomplish something over the years," Forster said. "You appreciate it.”
