Safety campaign aims to curb unsafe driving in school zones,

neighborhoods



    ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 6 /EMWNews/ -- Fifty-six million

children across the country begin heading back to school this month, and

AAA is urging motorists to slow down and stay alert in neighborhoods and

school zones with its 75th annual School's Open - Drive Carefully campaign.



    Unsafe driving in school zones



    AAA's School's Open - Drive Carefully campaign hopes to curb a trend of

unsafe driving behavior in school zones and neighborhoods that can result

in children's injury and sometimes death.



    Pedestrian injury is the second leading cause of injury-related death

in the United States for children ages 5 to 15, according to the Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 33,500 children were treated

in emergency rooms for pedestrian-related injuries in 2005.



    Nearly half (45 percent) of vehicles observed in school zones and

residential neighborhoods during a 2003 national observational survey did

not come to a complete stop at stop signs.



    -- 37 percent rolled through a stop sign



    -- Seven percent did not even slow down



    Additionally, nearly a third of motorists violated stop signs when a

child pedestrian was present, and two-thirds exceeded the posted speed

limit during the 30-minutes before and after school.



    AAA targets motorists with safe driving message



    AAA's School's Open - Drive Carefully campaign encourages motorists to

stay alert in areas where children are present by its local clubs utilizing

posters, magnets, bumper stickers, handouts, media outreach and other

community initiatives to reach motorists.



    For a second year, AAA will also partner with International Speedway

Corporation (ISC) to remind race fans at upcoming Sprint Cup Series events

that School's Open - Drive Carefully. Starting at this weekend at Watkins

Glen International, AAA's brightly colored school bus icon can be spotted

around the track. The campaign will continue during Sprint Cup Series

events this fall at Richmond International Raceway, Kansas Speedway,

Talladega Superspeedway and Martinsville Speedway.



    Safety tips for motorists, parents and students online



    AAA offers comprehensive lists of tips for motorists, parents and

students on school zone, school bus, pedestrian and bicycle safety online

at AAA.com/PublicAffairs. Some key tips for motorists on the site include:



    -- Slow down in or near school or residential areas, and be sure to

come to a complete stop at all intersections.



    -- Look for clues such as AAA School Safety Patrol members, crossing

guards, bicycles and playgrounds which indicate children could be in the

area.



    -- Scan between parked cars and other objects for signs that children

could dart into the road.



    -- Always stop for school buses that are loading and unloading

students. It's the law.



    -- Leave a little early so you are not rushed as you travel to work or

school.



    -- Drive with your headlights on - even during the day - so children

and other drivers can see you.



    As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization,

AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial

and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the

not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the

safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the

Internet at http://www.AAA.com



    AAA news releases can be downloaded from http://www.aaa.com/news



    



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