The John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers has partnered with the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department to unveil a new HERO patrol vehicle to promote the use of safe and sober designated drivers just in time for an extended Fourth of July weekend.
The township’s HERO car was dedicated in memory of Matt Uhl, who was killed by a drunk driver a month before he would have graduated from Rowan University in April of 2013. The Uhl family has actively supported the HERO Campaign ever since.
“We are grateful and proud to have the Little Egg Harbor Police save lives in memory of our son,” said Al Uhl, Matt’s father, who participated in the unveiling of the Little Egg Harbor HERO vehicle along with Matt’s mother, Dawn Uhl, and sister, Caitlyn Smith.
Just two hours later on Friday, June 30, the HERO Campaign joined officials from Galloway Township to unveil a second HERO vehicle in Galloway Township. The Friday unveilings allowed each town’s police department to get its HERO vehicle on the roadways before what will be a busy four-day holiday weekend for many.
A Ford Explorer from the Galloway Police Department’s fleet and a Ford Taurus from Little Egg Harbor Township’s police fleet have been wrapped with the HERO Campaign’s bright blue and yellow logo and life-saving slogan, “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver.” The HERO Campaign’s vehicle wrap program is expanding through a grant from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety (NJDHTS).
Both HERO-wrapped patrol vehicles are now “rolling billboards” for the HERO Campaign to promote the use and important role of designated drivers in preventing drunk and impaired driving. The Campaign is named in memory of Navy Ensign John R. Elliott of Egg Harbor Township, who was killed in a collision with a drunk driver near Woodstown in July 2000.
“It was a whirlwind of a day to host two HERO-wrapped vehicle unveilings in one day, but it was important to get these patrol vehicles on the road before Independence Day weekend,” said Bill Elliott, John’s father. “The Fourth of July is typically one of the deadliest times for impaired driving crashes. We hope drivers will see these HERO-wrapped vehicles and be reminded to be or use a designated driver to make sure everyone gets home safely this holiday weekend.”
“Our police department in Little Egg Harbor Township is proud to partner with the HERO Campaign to prevent accidents caused by drunk or impaired drivers,” said Little Egg Harbor Police Chief James Hawkins. “This vehicle wrap program is a great way to get the HERO Campaign’s message out there in a very visible way.”
“We are ecstatic to be partnering with the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign,” said Galloway Township Police Chief Richard D. Barber. “Thew Galloway Township Police Department has been a front-running agency in this state for tackling drunk driving. The addition of this vehicle to our fleet will bring even more recognition to the HERO Campaign in our area, thus promoting designated drivers. The vehicle we wrapped is one of our community policing vehicles, therefore it will be seen by many all over town and at community events.”
Galloway and Little Egg Harbor Township join what is now an 18-vehicle fleet of patrol/emergency vehicles from municipalities from throughout southern New Jersey, all of which have adopted the HERO Campaign with DUI prevention vehicles. Atlantic City, Evesham Township, Linwood, Lower Township, Margate, Middle Township, North Wildwood, Ocean City, Longport, Sea Girt, Sea Isle City, Pleasantville, Ventnor, and Vineland also have HERO cruisers currently in service. A new police vehicle wrap will soon be unveiled in Somers Point. In Egg Harbor Township a new EMS Humvee is also on the road with the new HERO wrap. The HERO Campaign has also recently completed a wrap of a police highway safety trailer.
The pair of new HERO vehicles, like the other police vehicles in the HERO fleet, will be highly visible in the community as officers drive them on traffic duty, to special events, and to area schools.
The HERO Campaign is now saving lives throughout New Jersey and several neighboring states, including Pennsylvania and Delaware, through its partnerships with law enforcement; schools and colleges; federal and state highway safety organizations; the licensed beverage industry; and professional sports teams. Since its inception in 2000, the HERO Campaign has grown into a major movement to prevent impaired driving that has received national recognition and awards. It has also helped to reduce alcohol-related fatalities and incidents, including a 20-percent reduction in DUI fatalities in New Jersey and other states over the past decade. For more information visit HEROcampaign.org or call 609-626-3880.
