Police Launch Back to School Safety Campaign

Police Officers Craig Carroll and Dinis Castro of the Scarsdale Police Department, along with local school children, helped AAA New York launch its 67th annual “School’s Open – Drive Carefully” campaign at the Scarsdale police headquarters this week.

The Scarsdale Police will mount “School’s Open” posters in Scarsdale to warn drivers to be extra careful as thousands of local kids go back to school.

“The help that we get from our area Police Departments adds to the effectiveness of our ‘School’s Open’ program,” said Donna Galasso, Assistant Director of the AAA’s Traffic Safety unit. “We appreciate the efforts of Officer Carroll and Officer Castro, which will result in increased safety for all students,” said Galasso.

Ms. Galasso reminds drivers and cyclists to:

• Be especially cautious in school areas
• Drive at or below posted speed limits
• Be prepared to stop on both sides of the street, for school buses with flashing red lights and stop arms, as required by New York State law.

The AAA’s annual “School’s Open – Drive Carefully” campaign is conducted with local government and police agencies. 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.

(Photo) Police Officers Craig Carroll (left) and Dinis Castro with (left to right) Coleman and Jacob Dusavage and Traffic Safety Specialist Barbara Ward.