AAA Texas' Talking Car Teaches Austin Students about Importance of Traffic Safety; Otto the Auto Uses Fun to Grab Students' Attention

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WHAT:     Otto the Auto is a traffic safety awareness program for K-2 
          students provided free of charge to schools by AAA Texas.  
          The three-foot-tall, brightly painted talking car will visit
          hundreds of elementary students in Austin to conduct 
          interactive discussions about traffic safety. 

WHEN:     Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004
                    
WHERE:    8:00 a.m. (English), 8:40 a.m. (Spanish), 9:35 a.m. (E), & 
          10:15 a.m. (S)                         
          Sims Elementary
          1203 Springdale (Austin, TX)

          Ortega Elementary
          1:15 p.m. (Spanish), 2:00 p.m. (English)
          1135 Garland (Austin, TX)               
                                        
WHY:      Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death in the U.S. 
          for children age five through 12.  The purpose of Otto the 
          Auto's program is to instill good habits that will prevent 
          tragic deaths and injuries to youngsters who are walking, 
          bicycling or riding in a vehicle.  Education efforts aimed 
          at younger children and their parents can help build good 
          traffic safety habits.

AAA Texas, an affiliate of AAA National, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas' members benefit from the organization's roadside assistance service, insurance and financial products, travel agency, automotive pricing, buying and financing, trip planning services and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Texas' Web site at www.aaa-texas.com.