Drivers are urged to slow down and stay alert for young pedestrians and bicyclists as the new school year begins.

AAA's 75th annual “School's Open - Drive Carefully” campaign hopes to curb a trend of unsafe driving behaviors 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.

“Drivers should always be aware of the special risks to school-age children from motor vehicle crashes,” said Tom Chestnut, president/CEO of AAA Western and Central New York in a press release.

AAA's campaign encourages drivers to be extra cautious in areas where children are present, especially in school zones and residential neighborhoods. Nearly half (45 percent) of vehicles observed in these areas during a 2003 national observation survey did not come to a complete stop at stop signs, 37 percent rolled through a stop sign, 7 percent did not slow down, one-third of drivers violated stop signs even when a child pedestrian was present and two-thirds exceeded the posted speed limit during the 30-minutes before and after school.

“It is our responsibility as adults to preserve the safety of children,” Chestnut added. “Many youngsters are still vacation-minded at the start of school, are often pre-occupied and may have trouble making accurate judgments about traffic speed and distance.”

Driver advice:

• Slow down in or near school and residential areas, and be sure to come to a complete stop in all intersections

• Look for clues such as school crossing guards, bicycles and playgrounds, which indicate children could be in the area

• Scan between parked cars and other objects for children who may dart out into the street near school zones, playgrounds, bus stops and in neighborhoods

• Limit distractions such as cell phones, CD players or other devices that cause you to take your eyes off the road.

• Drive with your headlights on - even during the day - so children and other drivers can see you

• Practice extra caution in adverse weather conditions

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

• Always stop for school buses loading and unloading students; it's the law

Safe walking tips

• Always obey school crossing guards

• Before crossing, look all ways

• Obey all traffic signals

• Use crosswalks and corners to cross the road

• Where there is no sidewalk and it is necessary to walk in the roadway, walk facing traffic and as far from the roadway as possible

• Avoid crossing between parked cars

• Watch for cars; be sure that the way is clear before crossing

- Provided by AAA's “School's Open - Drive Carefully” campaign

On the Net

For more information on the “School's Open - Drive Carefully” campaign, pedestrian, school bus and bicycle safety, visit www.AAApublicaffairs.com