For 100 years, AAA School Safety Patrollers around the world have provided school-aged children an extra sense of safety and security when going to and from school. Today, current and former Safety Patrollers at Conkwright Elementary School in Winchester, Ky., joined schools across the country to mark the centennial of this leadership-building and life-saving program.

Nearly 1,000 Patrollers in about 30 schools currently participate in the AAA School Safety Patrol program in Central Kentucky alone.

Current AAA School Safety Patrollers at Conkwright Elementary, their advisor Beth Dennis and principal Travis Marcum were joined by former patrollers from the school’s staff in raising a special School Safety Patrol flag to mark the 100th anniversary of the program.

The patrollers and their fellow students were also joined by City of Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner and Sgt. Monty Corbett with the City of Winchester Police Department.

“These students look out for their peers’ safety every day and take their responsibility seriously,” said Sgt. Corbett. “They are the future leaders in our communities and have a strong desire to serve others. It was a pleasure to meet them this morning.”

Advisor Beth Dennis told the students assembled that they were celebrating this morning because the School Safety Patrol program sponsored by AAA is 100 years old. She praised the patrollers for being mature and responsible in fulfilling their roles in the School Safety Patrol program.

The 2021–22 school year boasts 679,000 Patrollers in 35,000 schools in the United States. The legacy doesn’t stop there, however. Over the last 100 years, interest in and excitement for the program have spread around the world. The AAA model has been adopted in at least 30 other countries, including England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.

Created to make schoolchildren safer while walking to school, the program has grown-up and matured with the times while remaining steadfast to its mission to provide a safer environment and leadership opportunities for millions of schoolchildren. Started as a boys-only initiative when horses and buggies were still a transportation mode, the program evolved to include girls.

The training that Patrollers receive instills a sense of safety beyond street crossings, including bus and car drop-offs, monitoring hallway congestion, and teaching Patrollers invaluable leadership skills. 

The program and its more than 440 Lifesaving Award recipients have contributed to the steady decline of U.S. student pedestrian (ages 5–14) deaths—a 24% decrease since 2010.

"The significance of the AAA School Safety Patrol cannot be overstated," said Lori Weaver Hawkins, public and government affairs manager, AAA Blue Grass. "From saving hundreds of lives to instilling leadership skills in thousands of students who have gone on to serve as community leaders, astronauts, Supreme Court Justices, and even U.S. Presidents."

Since 1920, AAA provides various equipment and education materials to Patrollers, including reflective belts, patrol badges and training resources. To learn how to bring the AAA School Safety Patrol to your school, email SchoolSafetyPatrol@national.aaa.com.

About AAA:

AAA provides automotive, travel, and insurance services to more than 63,000,000 members nationwide and more than 650,000 members in Kentucky.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  AAA is a non-stock, membership corporation working on behalf of motorists, who can map a route, access a COVID travel restriction map, find local gas prices and electric vehicle charging stations, discover discounts, book a hotel, and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app (AAA.com/mobile) for iPhone, iPad and Android.  For more information on joining or renewing a Membership, visit www.AAA.com.

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