50th Precinct urges safe driving

The NYPD is urging parents to teach their children some simple safety tips before they head back to school. 

“Very soon, thousands of children will be walking to and from school buses — many for the first time,” said Captain Peter O’Toole, commanding officer of the 50th Precinct. “Everyone who drives has a responsibility to be especially careful during this busy time for youngsters. Children tend to be at greater risk during the back-to-school period because they are thinking more about seeing old friends and new teachers than watching for cars and trucks. Others are going to school for the first time.”

The NYPD said as students head back to school, motorists should drive cautiously to prevent injuries and deaths among school-age children. Drivers should be especially cautious in school areas, keeping their safe speed at or below posted limits and being prepared to stop, on both sides of the street, for school buses with flashing red lights, as required by New York State law. 

To help protect children, Capt. O’Toole offered these six pedestrian-safety tips from AAA Northeast’s New York region, the local AAA affiliate:

• Look all ways before crossing the street.

• Cross only at corners.

• Obey police officers, school crossing guards, members of the AAA School Safety Patrols, and traffic signals.

• Watch out for turning cars.

• Be especially alert in bad weather.

• Play away from traffic.

The NYPD will use various materials to support AAA’s 70th annual “School’s Open – Drive Carefully” campaign. This year also marks the 95th Anniversary of the AAA School Safety Patrol Program, as depicted by a patrol member and an adult crossing guard on the new poster design. 

AAA Northeast is a not-for-profit auto club with 61 offices of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, providing more than 5.1 million local AAA members with travel, finance and auto-related services.