Inspector Kenneth Jackson and Detective Richard Pedone of the Garden City Police Department have helped AAA New York launch its 61st annual "School's Open - Drive Carefully" campaign by mounting traffic safety posters in the community.

Inspector Jackson and Detective Pedone mounted a colorful "School's Open - Drive Carefully" poster at Police Headquarters in Garden City Sept. 1 to help alert drivers to be extra careful as thousands of local youngsters return to school.

"Each year we depend on the cooperation of local police departments to ensure the success of the 'School's Open' program, Donna Galasso, assistant director of the Club's Traffic Safety Unit, said. "We're grateful that Inspector Jackson and Detective Pedone recognize the program's safety benefits for local students and have pledged their assistance to help spread the message."

Galasso reminds drivers to be especially cautious in school areas, keeping their speed at or below posted limits and being prepared to stop, on both sides of a street, for school buses with flashing red lights, as required by New York State law.

The Club's annual "School's Open - Drive Carefully" program is conducted with local government and police agencies. Thousands of special posters, banners, bumper tickers 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, the campaign has helped to prevent injuries and deaths among children of elementary school age.

AAA New York, the local AAA affiliate, provides automotive , travel and financial services to more than 1.4 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.