In an effort to keep children safe as they take to the streets to get to and from school, Police Officers James Kennedy and Philip Magaletti joined Jake and Kayla Yankowski to help AAA New York launch its 68th annual “School’s Open – Drive Carefully” campaign at Tuckahoe Police headquarters.
The police department has mounted several signs warning drivers that schools are open in the village and thousands of children are heading back to school. Similar signage will also be posted by the Eastchester and Bronxville police departments.
Eastchester Police Lt. Robert Jensen said the department participates in the program annually to promote safety and awareness. Each year, each of the town’s three departments adjust where signage is put, depending on traffic patterns.
Throughout the state, AAA will distribute thousands of posters to local police departments to remind drivers that children and school buses begin flooding the streets in September. The posters can be found at major intersections, popular areas of business and at all school crossings. More than 10,000 bumper stickers with the same sentiment will also be circulated around the state.
Donna Galasso, the assistant director of AAA New York’s Traffic Safety unit, said drivers and bicyclists should be prepared to stop on either side of the street for school buses and students crossing the street.
“The help we get from our club-area police departments adds to the effectiveness of our ‘School’s Open’ campaign,” she said. “The efforts of [Officers] Kennedy and Magaletti will increase safety for all students.”
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