Safe driving by Suffolk motorists kept a local tradition shining bright and green throughout December.

The Pilot Club of Suffolk’s Safety Tree was lighted with green bulbs at the Elks Lodge on West Constance Road on Dec. 1. In the event there is a traffic fatality in Suffolk during the month of December, the Suffolk Police Department replaces a green bulb with a red one.

But police reported no traffic fatalities in December, and the tree stayed green for just the fourth or fifth time in its 30-plus year history, according to Leah Powell, projects coordinator for the Pilot Club of Suffolk.

“Everybody drove safely, and we’re excited about that,” Powell said. “I’ve been a member for a long time, and I don’t remember it staying green.”

Powell thanked the Elks Lodge for hosting the tree and Curtis Mehalko of the Knights of Columbus for the donation of the tree.