School's Open Drive Carefully
EPS, Parlin School Host AAA Northeast Safety Event
The Everett Public Schools, AAA Northeast, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) have teamed up to urge drivers, walkers, cyclists, and transit riders to put safety first and remember: School’s Open, Drive Carefully.
Superintendent William D. Hart, Mayor Robert J. Van Campen, MassDOT Interim Secretary Philip Eng, Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Oglive, and Triple-A Northeast Senior Spokesperson Mark Schieldrop delivered the message on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at the Albert N. Parlin School.
“School’s Open, Drive Carefully” encourages slower speeds and heightened alertness on neighborhood streets, especially in school zones with pedestrians and bicyclists. Patience is key, as the resumption of school traffic patterns can increase congestion and extend commute times, particularly in the morning and mid-afternoon.
“The Everett Police Department and our crossing guards, principals, faculty, and parents do their part to make sure students get to and from school safely every day,” said Superintendent Hart. “But we must also rely on drivers to be cautious, follow posted signs, and obey speed limits. Safe conditions depend on safe drivers. We owe it to each other — and, most of all, our students.”
This call for safer driving behaviors is especially important in densely populated Everett, where a large percentage of students walk, bike, scooter, or take public transportation to get to and from school.
“As we welcome students back to school, the Schools Open, Drive Carefully initiative is a reminder that safety is a shared responsibility,” Mr. Eng said. “Under the Healey-Driscoll Administration, we have made investments in safe infrastructure, supporting safer roads and crossings and working with our communities to create transportation systems that protect our most vulnerable road users, especially our children. We urge every driver to slow down, stay alert and put safety first.”
"This school year, the RMV is reminding drivers to slow down and stay alert for school buses, and to watch for children in the roadway," said Registrar Ogilvie. "Drivers are required by law to stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing, and we ask that drivers use extra caution to help keep our students safe."
“The switch from summer to school routines can be a major adjustment for everyone on the road,” said Mark Schieldrop, senior spokesperson for AAA Northeast. “Reducing speeds and taking extra care around school buses, pedestrians and cyclists takes extra time, but it could save a life. We urge drivers — and everyone sharing our roads on foot or bike — to slow down, stay alert and help keep the community safe.”
AAA Northeast offers the following tips for safe transportation during the school year:
For drivers
- Watch for pedestrians when they’re facing a red light, stepping into traffic from between parked vehicles and crossing in locations not marked by a crosswalk. Even in these situations, drivers should take action to avoid colliding with pedestrians.
- Resist the urge to stop paying attention to the road and reach for your phone. Distracted drivers cause many fatal crashes.
- Leave earlier in the morning to resist the temptation to speed or pass stopped school buses. Taking risks to make up for lost time can have deadly consequences.
- Observe reduced speed limits in school zones, and watch for crossing guards and AAA School Safety Patrollers.
- Come to a full stop and check all directions before turning right at a red light, if the turn is allowed at that intersection. Many pedestrian and bicycle crashes occur at intersections when a vehicle is turning right.
- Always use crosswalks to cross the street and wait for all vehicles to stop before crossing.
- Never assume a driver is paying attention or can see you before entering a crosswalk or walking past a driveway or parking lot entrance.
- Never walk behind or along the sides of a school bus. If you can’t see the bus driver in the bus's side mirror, they can’t see you.
- Stay safe by limiting distractions. Texting while walking can impair situational awareness.