AAA Northeast launched its 71st annual School’s Open—Drive Carefully program at the Garden City Police Department. The program alerts drivers to be extra careful behind the wheel as children end their summer vacation and return to school. Commissioner Kenneth Jackson, Detective Richard Pedone and Inspector Michael Doyle joined local school children to help AAA kickoff the program.
Drivers are being advised to be particularly cautious in school areas, keeping their speed at or below posted limits and being prepared to stop, on both sides of the street, for school buses with flashing red lights, as required by New York State law.
AAA’s annual School’s Open—Drive Carefully campaign is conducted with local government and police agencies.
“The help we get from police departments in our territory adds to the effectiveness of our ‘School’s Open’ campaign,” said Donna Galasso, assistant director of AAA’s traffic safety unit. “We appreciate the efforts of Commissioner Jackson, Detective Pedone, Inspector Doyle and the Garden City Police Department, which helps to increase safety for all students.”
Thousands of posters, bumper stickers and other educational materials are distributed through the program. AAA New York State’s School’s Open – Drive Carefully program began in 1945. Since then, it has helped to prevent injuries and deaths among children of elementary school age. The not-for-profit auto club has 62 offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island that provide more than 5.2 million local AAA members with travel, insurance, finance and auto-related services.
–Submitted by AAA
