Hempstead, NY (August 26, 2019) - AAA Northeast launched its 74th annual “School’s Open - Drive Carefully” program at the Hempstead Police Department. The program alerts drivers to be extra careful behind the wheel as children end their summer vacation and return to school. Assistant Chief Kevin Colgan, Lt. Mark Kirichenko, Police Officer Earl Dean, Police Officer Adam Wade, Neighborhood Aide, Colleen Senior and School Crossing Guard, Shirley Cunningham joined local school students to help AAA kickoff the program.
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 sincerely appreciate the efforts of Assistant Chief Colgan, Lt. Kirichenko, Officers Dean and Wade, along with the neighborhood aides, school crossing guards and the entire Hempstead Police Department in helping 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 66 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.