AAA Offers Advice to Motorists and Students as Part
of the “ School ' s Open-Drive Carefully ” Campaign

BURNSVILLE, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As area students return to school from their summer vacations, AAA reminds motorists to slow down and watch out for school-age pedestrians. AAA also offers some advice to students for school bus safety.

"Children get caught up in the excitement of ‘back-to-school' season and forget to look out for cars or practice safe bus riding techniques,” said Gail Weinholzer, AAA Minnesota/Iowa. “Children need help from their parents to adequately prepare for proper school bus safety and drivers have to be particularly aware of young pedestrians who sometimes have difficulty judging speed and distance of vehicles and thus make bad choices when entering or crossing the roadway.”

As part of the “School ' s Open – Drive Carefully” campaign, AAA offers drivers tips to keep school children safe:

• Studies show that more than one-third of motorists in school zones or neighborhoods just “roll through” intersections with a stop sign. Drivers should slow down in or near school and residential areas, and be sure to come to a complete stop in all intersections.
  
• Drive with your headlights on – even during the day -- so children and other drivers can see you.
  
• 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.

• Practice extra caution in adverse weather conditions.

• Pay particular attention near schools during the morning and afternoon hours.

As part of the “School ' s Open – Drive Carefully” campaign, AAA offers students tips for safe school bus riding:

• Leave home early enough to arrive at your bus stop on time.

• Wait for your bus in a safe place – well off the roadway.

• Enter your bus in on orderly manner and take your seat.

• Follow the instructions of your school bus driver or bus patrol.

• Remain in your seat while your bus is in motion.

• Keep your head and arms in the bus at all times.

• Keep aisles clear at all times.

• Remain quiet and orderly.

• Be courteous to your school bus driver and fellow passengers.

• Be alert to traffic when leaving the bus.

• Walk to your bus stop – avoid asking your parents to drive you there.

"Drivers, parents and students need to do everything they can to adequately prepare to ensure the school year is safe and successful,” said Weinholzer.

AAA offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 50 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA Minnesota/Iowa is part of The Auto Club Group, with 4.1 million members in eight Midwest states.