Junior Safety Patrol

The junior safety patrol is a voluntary group of crossing guards involving older students helping younger students cross streets in elementary and middle schools across the United States. The official School Safety Patrol program was organized in 1920 by the American Automobile Association.

As of 1995, safety patrol members were located in 76 percent of the communities across the United States. AAA clubs across the United States and Canada sponsor the 500,000 member safety patrol program in 50,000 schools. Local AAA clubs supply training materials, badges and other materials, including the orange or neon green Sam Browne belt, needed to organize and operate a school safety patrol program.

Former safety patrol members include U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton; Dr. Gary S. Becker, Nobel Prize-winning economist; U.S. Senator John Warner; former Michigan Governor William Milliken; Joe Garagiola, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame; Lee Iacocca, former Chairman of the Chrysler Corporation, and; Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, along with 21 astronauts.

5 Comments to Junior Safety Patrol

1. 

   We need to bring this back! Back then, kids weren’t getting snatched left and right.
derp on January 27th, 2012
2. 

   They wouldn’t let me join. I’m still pretty bitter about that.
William on January 28th, 2012
3. 

   I started doing this in 4th grade (Around 1991/1992-ish) I would get to school way early and wear the stylish reflective vests. By 6th grade I got to be a captain. That meant I was able to blow the whistle which determined when to lower the flags down so kids could cross the street. Yeah, I was kind of a big deal….
Emily on January 30th, 2012
4. 

   Yeah, I too, was a member of the JSP. Yep, those were the days. Kids got across the street safe on my watch. LOL! But seriously, at my school they had a certain amount of the orange sashes, and then they had the old, worn out looking, ugly orange vests that no one wanted. Ugh. I was always pissed when I had to wear the vest.
Bebe on February 28th, 2012
5. 

   I remember this. Crossing the stress at my elementary school. I can say I agree that not as many kids got snatched when this was going around. As well as less accidents involving kids.
Jerica on April 25th, 2012

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