FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2012
Contact: Megan Sanborn
(207) 626-8405

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Secretary of State Charles E. Summers, Jr. Announces: School’s Open, Drive Carefully

Secretary of State Charlie Summers teams up with AAA Northern New England and local officials to promote back to school safety message

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On September 6, 2012 Secretary of State Charlie Summers will team up with AAA Northern New England and state officials to promote back to school safety. The press conference will be held at 10:00am at the Cumberland Avenue entrance to Portland High School. State and local officials will discuss efforts to improve highway safety in Maine as children return to school.

Secretary Summers will highlight law changes and (driving regulations) passed by the 125th legislature which became effective August 30th. “I’m hopeful that stricter laws and penalties will deter not only teenage drivers but all drivers to make our roadways safer,” said Summers.

According to AAA’s statistics more than 1,200 children lost their lives during after-school hours between 2000 and 2010. Pat Moody, AAA Northern New England public affairs states, “although we’ve seen a steady decrease in the number of tragedies each year, it’s important to remember that one death is one too many.” AAA Northern New England distributes thousands of “Schools Open, Drive Carefully” posters annually in the region in an effort to raise awareness.