Lt. Kenneth Jackson (left) and Detective Richard Pedone helped to launch AAA’s “School’s Open - Drive Carefully” campaign at Police Headquarters in Garden City. They are shown with Julia Grimes and Joseph Falco, Traffic Safety Specialist, who represented AAAat the ceremony. Lieutenant Kenneth Jackson and Detective Richard Pedone of the Garden City Police Department have helped the Automobile Club of New York launch is 60th annual “School’s Open - Drive Carefully” campaign by mounting traffic safety posters in the community.

Lieutenant Jackson and Detective Pedone mounted a colorful “School’s Open - Drive Carefully” poster at Police Headquarters in Garden City on September 1st to help alert drivers to be extra careful as thousands of local youngsters return to school.

“Each year we depend on the cooperation of local police departments to ensure the success of the ‘Schools Open’ program,” said Donna Galasso, assistant director of the Club’s Traffic Engineering and Safety Services Unit. “We’re grateful that Lieutenant Jackson and Detective Pedone recognize the program’s safety benefits for local students and have pledged their assistance to help spread the message,” said Galasso.

Ms. Galasso reminds drivers to be especially cautious in school areas, keeping their speed at or below posted limits and being prepared to stop, on both sides of a street, for school buses with flashing red lights, as required by New York State Law.

The Club’s annual “School Open - Drive Carefully” program is conducted with local government and police agencies. Thousands of special posters, banners, 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, the campaign has helped to prevent injuries and deaths among children of elementary school age.

The Automobile Club of New York, the local AAA affiliate, provides automotive, travel and financial services to more than 1.4 million members in New York City, and in Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, Herkimer and Oneida counties.