Heading Back to School: Drive Carefully

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

As 1.6 million children across Georgia return to school, AAA urges motorists to slow down and stay alert in neighborhoods and school zones. They also must be especially vigilant for pedestrians before and after school hours. Children are particularly vulnerable during the afternoon hours following their school day. Over the last decade, nearly one-third of child pedestrian fatalities occurred between 3 and 6 p.m.

“We are aware of the risk to children in and around school zones, which is why we developed the AAA’s School’s Open–Drive Carefully awareness campaign to help curb unsafe driving behavior near schools,” said Garrett Townsend, Georgia Public Affairs Director, AAA-The Auto Club Group. “If Georgia motorists slow down and stay alert, they can save lives.”

The AAA School’s Open Drive Carefully awareness campaign was launched in 1946 to prevent school-related child pedestrian traffic crashes, helping kids live fulfilling, injury-free lives.

AAA offers seven ways to keep kids safe this school year:

1. Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling 25 m.p.h. is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 m.p.h. faster. A difference between 25 m.p.h. and 35 m.p.h. can save a life.

2. Eliminate distractions. Children often cross the road unexpectedly and may emerge suddenly between two parked cars. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing.

3. Reverse responsibly. Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for children on the sidewalk, driveway, and around your vehicle before slowly backing up. Teach your children to never play in, under, or around vehicles – even parked ones.

4. Talk to your teen. Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death for teens in the United States, and more than one-quarter of fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur during the after-school hours of 3 to 7 p.m.

5. Come to a complete stop. Research shows that over one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always Continued on page 22

Travel Tales: Ride the Rails in the USA!

By Pam Walker

I have been on many train trips in Europe, but it has been way too many years for an adventure here in the US. When I started in the travel industry too many years ago to mention, I was the escort on the Amtrack Empire Builder from New York to Chicago to Glacier National Park in Montana. It was a great trip, but it included a lot of freight yards along the way.

I migrated from that trip to taking people to Mexico and South America on 10-day journeys. As a Spanish speaker, I escorted all types of folks from New York City to the southern hemisphere, hoping that travelers would get to know the people south of our border.

Last week, I was on a train again. But this time back across the US West. Rocky Montaineer’s journey, called the Rockies to the Red Rocks, is a two-day trip from Denver, Colorado to Moab, Utah. When you ride the rails across the western United States, there are few rail yards and much fabulous scenery. We climbed out of Denver into the Rockies while being fed and catered to by a wonderful host team on board. On this trip, you don’t have to go from car to car to get to a dining table. Just like first class on the airlines, they open a tray table in front of you, put down a small tablecloth, and serve the several-course meal while the beautiful scenery passes. The food was terrific! All meals and beverages are included. Yes, wine, beer, and alcohol are included, too! The narrative as you go along is filled with stories of the old West and the characters that made the history of the US fascinating.

Also included is an overnight in a historic hotel in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where you can take a dip in the famous hot springs located in the town.

On the train again and headed to Moab, the scenery changed from green to yellow sand and the Southwestern desert’s red rocks. It makes you wonder how the early settlers made it through this inhospitable land. On arrival in Moab, you are on your own to explore Arches National Park or Canyonlands National Park. It is also the land of dinosaurs with a great little museum with life-size statues of the species that were found there.

What a wonderful land we live in. “God Bless the USA,” as the song title goes. Thank you, Rocky Mountaineer, for bringing the beautiful and hard-to-reach places of our country up close and personal.

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso Travel Advisor and can be reached at pam@walkeradventures.com