LBPD Help Launch ‘School’s Open-Drive Carefully’ Campaign

Lieutenant Mark Stark and Police Officer Steven Bermudez of the Long Beach Police Department, along with local school children, helped AAA New York to launch its 68th annual “School’s Open – Drive Carefully” campaign at the Long Beach police headquarters.

Colorful “School’s Open” posters will be mounted in Long Beach to warn motorists to be extra careful as thousands of local youngsters return to school.

“The help that we get from our club-area police departments adds to the effectiveness of our ‘School’s Open’ campaign,” said Donna Galasso, assistant director of the club’s Traffic Safety unit. “We appreciate the efforts of Lieutenant Stark and Police Officer Bermudez, which will result in increased safety for all student.”

Galasso reminds drivers, including bicyclists, to be especially 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 and stop arms, as required by New York State law.

The club’s annual “School’s Open – Drive Carefully” campaign is conducted with local government and police agencies, and 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, according to the club.

AAA New York, the local AAA affiliate, provides automotive, travel and financial services to more than 1.6 million members in New York City, and in Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Herkimer and parts of Lewis, Madison and Oneida counties.