AAA Celebrates Wisconsin Adult Crossing Guard Appreciation Week

MADISON, Wisc. (February 19, 2024) – Every morning, thousands of adult crossing guards across the state help students safely get to and from school. AAA – The Auto Club Group and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction are proud to help honor their dedication during Wisconsin Adult Crossing Guard Appreciation Week, February 19^th – 23^rd, in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin School Safety Coordinators Association, Wisconsin Department of Justice – Office of School Safety, Badger State Sheriffs’ Association, Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association and many local law enforcement agencies across the state.

“The safety of children is one of the highest priorities in every community,” said Nick Jarmusz, director of public affairs for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Adult crossing guards perform a vital service in protecting students from dangerous situations and teaching them how to safely navigate streets and traffic.”

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly has issued a proclamation and published a list of ways in which schools, students and communities can help recognize their local crossing guards.

AAA will be hosting open houses at its branch offices on the following days and welcoming local crossing guards to stop in for refreshments and other tokens of appreciation:

Tuesday, February 20th

Eau Claire, 8:30am – 4:30pm, 3430 Oakwood Hills Parkway, Eau Claire, WI 54701

Green Bay, 8:30am - 5:30pm, 2285 South Oneida Street, Ste 1, Green Bay, WI 54304

Wednesday, February 21st

Madison, 8:30am – 5:30pm, 2358 East Springs Drive, Ste 100, Madison, WI 53704

Middleton, 8:30am – 5:30pm, 1701 Deming Way, Unit G124, Middleton, WI 53562

Milwaukee, 10:00am – 2:00pm, 4433 South 27th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53221

Waukesha, 10:00am – 2:00pm, 21505 East Moreland Boulevard, Ste 100, Waukesha, WI 53186

Grafton, 10:00am – 2:00pm, 1040 North Port Washington Road, Grafton, WI 53024

Menomonee Falls, 10:00am – 2:00pm, W176 N9348 Rivercrest Drive, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051

Thursday, February 22nd

Appleton, 8:30am – 5:30pm, 160 N McCarthy Road, Appleton, WI 54914

AAA – The Auto Club Group, through its School’s Open Drive Carefully campaign reminds motorists to:

• Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster.
• Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.
• Eliminate distractions. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing.
• Share the road with bicyclists. Children on bicycles are often inexperienced, unsteady and unpredictable. Slow down and allow at least three feet of passing distance between your vehicle and a bicyclist.
• Talk to your teen. Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death for teens in the United States, and nearly one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occurs during the after-school hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

About AAA – The Auto Club Group

The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America with more than 13 million members across 14 U.S. states, the province of Quebec and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel offerings and more. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 62 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA’s mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety. For more information, get the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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