SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Roswell resident Leyla-Marie Bouadou, recognized as AAA Safety Patroller of the Year, has a message for drivers before Fulton County Schools students begin classes Aug. 4.
Leyla-Marie, who just finished fifth grade at River Eves Elementary School in southeast Roswell, said serving on her school’s Safety Patrol taught her the importance of awareness around cars and buses.
After being nominated as Safety Patroller of the Year at River Eves Elementary last school year, she took home the statewide award. Only one patrol member per state, in the Auto Club Group’s territory, wins the annual recognition.
“In fourth grade, my teacher Mr. Klosterhaus nominated me for for the Safety Patrol Program. And I loved it because I became very helpful to my school” she said. “And, I’m very grateful to all the students out there, have a great school year and stay safe.”
Leyla-Marie said her teacher Ms. Lemcoe helped out and made the program a lot of fun with treats for the Safety Patrol. After graduating fifth grade, she’s headed to Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Johns Creek.
Fulton County students are heading back Aug. 4 for the start of the 2025-26 school year. The new calendar includes 177 instructional days and a new week-long break in October along with the Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks.
The school district encourages parents to check their child’s emergency contact information on Infinite Campus and its updated student code of conduct, banning tobacco and vape products, inappropriate physical contact and the misuse of AI or altered images.
The district’s electronics policy bans personal devices like phones and tablets for students in grades K-8 and restricts their usage during instructional time for highs schoolers.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 63 percent of child pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2023 were struck during weekdays. Afternoon hours following the school day are particularly dangerous because children are vulnerable as they walk through residential areas and near school grounds.
Garrett Townsend, public affairs director for AAA, said it’s important to realize that children getting on and off buses are unpredictable.
“Believe it or not, in just a few days, kids are going to be heading back to school,” Townsend said. “We have a responsibility as motorists on the road, and that’s to keep them safe.”
The AAA School’s Open Drive Carefully awareness campaign launched in 1946 to prevent school-related child pedestrian traffic crashes, helping kids to live fulfilling, injury-free lives. According to the AAA Consumer Pulse Survey, around 70 percent of Georgia will commute daily or regularly drive routes that take them through school zones and/or bus stops this fall.
“We’re urging all motorists to focus on the task of driving, focus on getting to your destination safely and be aware of when you’re in a school zone,” Townsend said. “Make sure that you pay extra attention to those school zones and children that may be going back and forth to school.”
The AAA survey showed 41 percent of Georgians admitted to driving over the speed limit and 28 percent admitted to using a cell phone while in an active school zone.
Vickie Cross, transportation director at Fulton County Schools, said her mission is simple, deliver students to their destinations on time and in a frame of mind ready to learn. Cross said it requires “the extraordinary efforts” of qualified bus drivers, monitors, mechanics and school district staff.
Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Allen Poole said school buses are illegally passed more than 9,000 times a day in Georgia.
“Georgia law is very simple … when the stop equipment [on a school bus] is activated, you must stop [if it’s in front of your vehicle],” Poole said. “If the road is divided by a physical barrier, not a turn lane … you don’t have to stop if it’s headed in the opposite direction.”
Along Roswell Road (Ga. 9) in Sandy Springs, the four-lane corridor is not median divided and vehicles must stop for a bus dropping off children in either direction.
Lt. Chris Carlisle with the state Public Safety Department’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement said his unit has inspected more than 20,000 school buses in Georgia.
“We found defects that needed to be corrected, worked with the bus shops and made sure that these busses are safe to be able to transport students to and from schools,” Carlisle said. “We’ve done our part. Now we’re asking you to do yours.”
AAA offers essential traffic safety tips for keeping kids safe:
• Slow Down: Stick to school zone speed limits. Even 10 mph faster can mean the difference between life and death for a pedestrian.
• Eliminate Distractions: Avoid texting and distractions. A glance away doubles your chances of a crash.
• Reverse Carefully: Check for children before reversing. Teach kids to stay clear of vehicles.
• Talk to Teens: Stress safe driving habits with your teen, especially during after-school hours (3-7 p.m.).
• Stop Fully: Always come to a complete stop at stop signs and crosswalks to check for kids.
• Watch for Bikes: Give kids on bicycles at least three feet of space and ensure they wear helmets.
