Shown in photo are Amityville Police Officer David Smith with his children Christina and Gregory and AAA coordinator Eileen Beetar. Police Officer David Smith of the Amityville Police Department has helped AAA New York launch its 63rd annual School's Open - Drive Carefully campaign by mounting traffic safety posters in the community.

Officer Smith mounted a colorful School's Open - Drive Carefully poster at Police Headquarters in Amityville on September 1 to help alert drivers to be extra careful as thousands of local youngsters return to school.

"Each year, we count on assistance from the local police departments to ensure the success of our School's Open program, said Donna Galasso, assistant director of the Club's Traffic Safety unit. "We're thankful that Officer Smith recognizes the program's safety benefits for local students and has cooperated with us to help spread the message," said Galasso.

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 posters, bumper stickers 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.