AAA Oklahoma is helping kids get to and from school through its School Safety Patrol Program.
Spokesman Chuck Mai says in Oklahoma the organization spends 15 to 20-thousand dollars a year to equip the oldest grade level students in more than 240 elementary schools.
"The Sam Browne belts that you see the kids wear over the shoulder around the waists. Badges: We have sergeant, lieutenant and captains, as well as patrol badges. Also the literature. The care and consent cards. The membership cards."
Mai says the AAA Safety patrol program which began in the 1920s is the largest in the country.
He says the School Safety Program trains and equips the oldest kids in the grade schools to help them with this important responsibility.
"Something as precious as the lives of their classmates: the first, second, third graders as they're walking to and from school before and after school and also bicycling. So, there's a lot of safety involved as well as character building."
Mai adds when you look at national political and business leaders and even astronauts, most got their stars as school safety patrol members in elementary school.
He also reminds drivers around school zones to limit distractions, drive alert, put down the phones and expect the unexpected.
