The program alerts drivers to be extra careful behind the wheel as children end their summer vacation and return to school.
AAA Northeast launched its 73rd annual “School’s Open - Drive Carefully” program at the Hempstead Police Department Headquarters with Chief Paul Johnson, Assistant Chief Patrick Cooke, Lieutenant Mark Kirichenko, Police Officer Adam Wade, Police Officer Earl Dean III and Police Officer Christopher Giardino. Local school students also help AAA kickoff the program. The program alerts drivers to be extra careful behind the wheel as children end their summer vacation and return to school.
Drivers should 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 Chief Johnson, Assistant Chief Cooke, Lt. Kirichenko, Officers Wade, Dean, and Giardino, along with the Hempstead Police Department which helps to increase safety for all students,” Galasso said.
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.
AAA Northeast is a not-for-profit member service organization with 65 offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island providing more than 5.7 million local AAA members with roadside assistance, travel, insurance, finance and auto-related services.