In the 1920s the American Automobile Association helped to establish a program for for older students who could assist younger students crossing the street or entering or leaving a school bus. The safety patrol was an organized club of elementary and middle school students, usually fifth- or sixth-graders, who volunteered to guide and protect their classmates from traffic hazards.

It was an honor to be selected to be a part of the safety patrol. Each patrol member was provided with a white belt that they had to wear when they were on duty along with a metal badge with the AAA emblem attached. 

While everyone thinks that the AAA started the program it was really started by a Catholic nun in St. Paul, Minn. Sister Carmela was worried about the mix of children and cars and in 1921 started a safety program. Later, Charles Hayes, president of the Chicago Motor Club, a precursor of the American Automobile Association, expanded the idea by pledging himself to help police departments with the task.

This was important in the days before crossing guards and traffic lights. My first recollection of the safety patrol was when I walked to school in the city. Patrols were at every intersection to help get children cross the street safely in high traffic areas.  

My next encounter was on the school bus. The patrol boys and girls got off the bus first, got on last and helped the younger children on and off the bus and if they needed assistance to cross the street they were there to help.

The students who were patrols took their job very seriously. There were rewards for good service with a hierarchy of service awarded with varying badges. An incentive badge was awarded for outstanding performance or a job well done. There were levels of participation such as captain, lieutenant and sergeant.

All must take the Safety Patrol Pledge:

“I promise to do my best to:

Report for duty on time

Perform my duties faithfully

Strive to prevent accidents

Always set a good example

Obey my teachers and officers of the Patrol

Report dangerous student practices

Strive to earn the respect of fellow students.”

I hadn’t really thought about these students until recently when I saw young people standing on the corners in the city of Tampa wearing their belts. Now the belts come in fluorescent colors instead of white to stand out better. 

For many years the familiar “Sam Brown” belt made of leather that has a metal badge was used to identify the patrols. It was replaced by the “blaze orange” belt and more recently by the blaze orange vest. An upcoming change will be to the “luminescent green” vest, which is now emerging from the National Safety Council, used by industrial workers and police departments in other places. The Sam Brown belt is a belt that goes over one shoulder and around the waist.

Today there is a program for the Lifesaving Medal Award and it is the highest honor given to members of the school safely patrol. That is presented annually to patrol members who while on duty, saved the life of someone in danger. These lifesaving awards are presented by the President of the United States and justices of the Supreme Court.  

Serving on the safety patrol is a great way for children to learn about volunteerism and caring for others.