DOVER — Factor in key economic drivers — the price of gas and money in the pocket when the paycheck arrives — and there’s just as much reason to travel this Memorial Day holiday as last year.

Thus, AAA Mid-Atlantic is expecting highway traffic to resemble 2012. And the annual advice to leave early and avoid peak travel times still stands, along with making a vehicle check for proper tire pressure and battery charge.

While gas prices are down a nickel per gallon from last year, the counter-balance was a change in federal withholding taxes that lessened paychecks beginning in January.

“We’re looking at travel density numbers as being roughly flat from last year,” AAA spokesman Jim Lardear said.

AAA estimated that 96,000 Delawareans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the weekend, and 90 percent of them will do it by driving. Mr. Lardear said AAA would staff appropriately for the projected numbers, and expects Tuesday to be an especially big day for roadside assistance calls.

According to the Delaware Department of Transportation, traffic through the Del. 1 Dover Toll Plaza peaks on Friday and Monday, and is lowest on Sunday.

“If you can, it’s advisable to travel at off-peak times,” Mr. Lardear said. “If not, some patience will be required on the highways.”

The Office of Highway Safety will continue its Click It of Ticket campaign designed to increase driver’s safety by seat belt enforcement at all times.

“As we kick off the busy summer driving season it’s important that everyone buckles up every time they go out, both day and night — no excuses,” OHS Director Jana Simpler said in a press release.

“Delaware law enforcement officers are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing their seat belt — Click It or Ticket.”

Drivers and passengers traveling in an unbelted mode will be ticketed if spotted by police, state officials said.

The state cited numbers indicating unrestrained fatal crashes in Delaware as on the rise — 53 percent of fatal victims have been unbuckled occupants this year, compared to 29 percent in 2012. Seventeen people have died in a fatal vehicle crash this year.

Besides the potential catastrophic loss of life associated with not wearing a seat belt, ticket costs total $83.50 are assessed to the driver.

“Troopers urge motorists to make safety a top priority by properly buckling up!” Delaware State Police Sgt. Paul G. Shavack said in a press release. “Being properly restrained can substantially reduce your risk of being involved and/or injured in a crash. Remember, there is never a good excuse to ride in a vehicle without wearing a seat belt.”

While the nature of traffic can be affected by accidents and unforeseen roadway incidents, DelDOT is suspending lane closures on Del. 1, U.S. 95 and U.S. 202 to help limit delays. The closures begin Friday and will run through midnight Monday, DelDOT said.

Motorists can tune into AM radio station WTMC-1380 to monitor existing traffic conditions. Any travel or traffic related issues can be called into 659-4600 or 1-800-324-8379 or by dialing 77 on a cell phone.

More information is available online at www.DelDOT.gov.

Through the Delaware Beach HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers, the beach area roadways will be safer thanks to fewer impaired motorists behind the wheel. The campaign focuses on increasing designated drivers through tavern owners providing free nonalcoholic beverages throughout the summer.

More than 40 restaurants and bars have already signed up for the program, officials said in a press release.

The program was started by Bill Elliott, whose son John (a recent United States Naval Academy graduate) was killed by a drunken driver in 2000 while on the way home for his mother’s birthday. The driver had been released after being arrested for driving while intoxicated, a press release said, and began driving again before killing himself and John Elliott.

“We are working to sign up as many bars as possible with the campaign,” Bill Elliott, the campaign’s founder and chairman, said in a press release.

“We want people to see a HERO Campaign sticker on the door of these taverns and know that the establishment is trying to keep people safe.”

For more information, call 609-626-3880 or go online to www.herocampaign.org.

Delaware State News

The Office of Highway Safety is proud to bring the HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers®

to Delaware as part of our continuing efforts to prevent impaired driving and alcohol-related crashes. The HERO Campaign was created by the family of Naval Ensign John Elliott who was killed in a head on crash in 2000 by an impaired driver. The Elliott family honors John’s memory by promoting the use of designated drivers as a safe and responsible alternative to drinking and driving.

In August 2007, Delaware became the second official HERO state in the nation (the Elliott’s home state of New Jersey was the first) when Lt. Governor Carney signed a proclamation on behalf of himself and Governor Ruth Ann Minner. (Click here to see pictures)

Later that evening, OHS dedicated a sobriety checkpoint in Ensign Elliott’s memory.

We welcome the important support of the Delaware’s Hospitality community whose members will be marketing the campaign on the front line in the bars and restaurants. Dover Downs and the Dewey Beach Grill are the first two official HERO businesses in the First State. A list of all participating HERO businesses will be listed here soon!.

If you are a bar or restaurant and would like to sign-up to be a “HERO Friendly Establishment”, we will send you, free of charge, all the materials you need to set-up the campaign in your business. You can preview them on the left, and order them by downloading this form and faxing it back to us at (302) 739-5995. You will also receive recognition on this website and through a periodic publication of HERO Friendly Establishments.

In 2007, 45% of all car crash fatalities in Delaware were alcohol related. Join HERO now to help us raise awareness about the importance of planning for an evening out by using a designated driver. Our goal is to help people realize how easy it is to be responsible.

http://ohs.delaware.gov/hero/

The Delaware Restaurant Association is teaming up with the Hero Campaign to bring the Delaware Beach Heroes Designated Driving Campaign to beach towns this summer. This socially responsible campaign is an opportunity for the restaurant community in Delaware to band together and show commitment to serving guests in a safe and responsible manner with the goal of preventing drunk-driving tragedies.

The campaign kicks off with Creating Delaware Beach Heroes Through Responsible Alcohol Service Tuesday, May 21, at the Baycenter in Dewey Beach. Event attendees will receive an introduction to the campaign from Bill Elliott, founder of the Hero Campaign, as well as educational updates from the Delaware State Police, Office of Highway Safety and the Department of Alcohol & Tobacco Enforcement. Representatives from more than 70 participating bars and restaurants in Fenwick Island, Bethany, Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach as well as Lewes will be involved.

The campaign starts on Memorial Day weekend and will run throughout the 2013 summer season. By participating, restaurants and bars agree to distribute Hero Campaign wristbands and free nonalcoholic beverages to those who identifiy themselves as designated drivers. The Hero Campaign is not an anti-drinking campaign, but instead encourages common sense and responsibility by promoting individuals with the slogan, Be a Hero. Be a Designated Driver.

“We are excited here in Dewey to take a proactive approach to any concerns regarding drinking and driving, underage consumption, and service of alcohol in our incredibly fun resort/beach town. Dewey has been known for decades as a fun beach resort, we want to keep that going while working hard to make sure people have fun in a safe manner.

“This partnership with our Delaware ABCC/DATE, and the Hero Campaign is just one of many efforts being made to continue working for positive fun and vibrant nightlife, which can coexist with summertime families and property owners in Dewey Beach,” said Steve Montgomery, owner of the Starboard Restaurant and president of the Dewey Business Partnership group.

Delaware Beach Heroes is the first campaign in a yearlong partnership between the Delaware Restaurant Association and the Hero Campaign. The DRA will be involving restaurants and bars in the Newark area this fall for a fundraising walk on the University of Delaware’s campus Oct. 31 and Wilmington-area restaurants and bars for a designated-driving campaign over the 2013 holiday season this November and December.

For more information go to www.herocampaign.org.

AtlantiCare celebrated the accomplishments of a diverse group of honorees during its 54th annual Century Club Gala Saturday at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

Honorees were Gov. Chris Christie and first lady Mary Pat Christie for their work during Hurricane Sandy; Bill and Muriel Elliott, of the Ensign John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers; and Dr. John W. Becher, who retired last year as chairman of emergency services at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center.

The Christies were honored for their leadership and extraordinary efforts before, during and after Hurricane Sandy and through the renaissance of Atlantic City, AtlantiCare said. Christie and his wife were not there to accept the honor, but accepted the award in a video.

“This award stems from our work immediately after Hurricane Sandy, but we really, we don’t deserve any award at all,” Christie said. “It’s all the responders, the volunteers, the organizations that all came together to help New Jersey restore itself immediately after the storm and now are helping us rebuild our state.”

Bill and Muriel Elliott received a tribute for their work with the Ensign John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers.

“We are really in the same business of saving lives,” said Bill Elliott of the HERO campaign and AtlantiCare.“Our goal is to register 1 million designated drivers,” Elliott said.

Dr. Becher spent more time in Philadelphia than he did with AtlantiCare, but he was honored for the impact he made while he was there.

Becher recruited a number of younger, very qualified emergency physicians during his 12 years with AtlantiCare. The one-call system to treat heart attack victims was also instituted during his time with AtlantiCare.

Becher said he was “very surprised and flabbergasted” by the honor.

AtlantiCare raised about $550,000 through gala ticket sales and/or sponsorships.

The Press of Atlantic City

(CNN) — Prom season is a perfect time to remind teens of the dangers of drinking and driving.

In 2010, car crashes killed about 2,700 people between 16 and 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Instead of increasing the death toll, any teen can choose to be a HERO this year at the prom.

John Elliott, second from left, poses with his parents and sister at his Naval Academy graduation.

In July 2000, Bill Elliott and his wife, Muriel, were woken up by a knock on the door at 4 a.m.

“I heard the knocking and I thought, ‘Oh my God, my son is dead.’ I just knew. And then I heard (Muriel) scream and that nightmare became a reality,” says Bill.

Their son, John, was killed by a drunken driver while driving home to celebrate his mother’s birthday.

A few months later, Bill and Muriel Elliott decided to start an organization to keep people from getting behind the wheel drunk.

It’s called the Ensign John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers. The goal is to register 1 million designated drivers and make having a designated driver be as automatic as wearing a seat belt.

The name comes from John’s experience at the Naval Academy. During his senior year, John was selected by his peers to be a HERO (human education resource officer.) “They saw him as a great leader who made them laugh and saw the humor and the positive in everything,” says Bill.

Bill and Muriel wanted to carry that theme into the campaign. “Out of our heartbreak, we wanted to do something to honor our son, and that was an expression of his positive nature,” says Bill. “John represents all victims and all the people whose lives we are trying to save, and I think he would’ve liked that.”

The HERO Campaign message is simple: Be a HERO. Be a designated driver. Bill believes the group has “a serious mission and a serious goal which can be achieved by people doing the right thing and appealing to the HERO in everybody. We really like to celebrate the good guy.”

The HERO campaign is active in seven states and partners with law enforcement, schools and colleges, bars, taverns and restaurants, professional sports teams, and state divisions of highway safety.

Billboards, decals and magnets are used to get the message out.

“People see the billboard, they see sticker on the car, they go into a bar and they see the poster on the wall, and they’re going to say, ‘What is this HERO campaign?’ Or they begin to know what it is, which is even better. Because basically it’s a simple message and a simple reminder — who’s your driver tonight? Who’s your HERO tonight?” says Bill.

The group holds annual events like the HERO Walk and the HERO Golf Tournament. Last year over 2,000 people walked on the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey, to show their support. “It’s really something that’s captured the support of the community, because everybody has the same reaction when I talk about that knock on the door. That is the knock you never want to get,” says Bill.

The Elliotts hope that because of their message, other families will be spared from hearing that knock on the door at 4 a.m.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/26/living/iyw-prom-heroes/

The Eagle Greenery at Egg Harbor Township High School is welcoming spring Wednesday with a floral show and contest to raise money for the Hero Campaign. UPDATE: The contest raised $800 for the HERO Campaign.

About 30 students have created floral arrangements that will be on display in the common area from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Students, staff and visitors can purchase tickets for 50 cents each to vote for their favorites and get a chance to win the arrangement. The three entries that get the most votes will also win Wawa gift cards for their creators.

“But this isn’t about winning, it’s about giving back to the community,” said teacher Lori Butrus. The school supports the Hero Campaign, which promotes the use of designated drivers to reduce drunken-driving accidents.

Students spent Tuesday finishing up their arrangements. Themes reflect the students’ interests, including ninjas, sports and Spongebob along with more traditional floral arrangements. A student who plays football created an arrangement in memory of the four Mainland Regional High School students killed in a car crash in August 2011.

Timothy Elmer, 16, a junior, brought in an old tin teapot from home and used it as a base for a floral arrangement in purples and greens. The teapot lid made an distinctive decoration.

“My mom has a teapot collection,” he said.

Senior Michelle Snuffin, 19, chose a rainbow theme and included carnations, tulips, lilies, chrysanthemums and spider mums in all different colors arranged in a clear glass vase.

Butrus said she loves to see how students bring their personalities to their arrangements. The class is part of the school’s school-to-work program and a number of graduates have gone on to jobs with area florists and garden centers.

“I had a student who works at Fischer Flowers write me a letter saying she would never have known how much she liked flowers if she hadn’t taken this class,” Butrus said.

The flower shop is largely self-supporting, and in addition to in-school flower sales has contracted to do floral arrangements for private parties and area churches.

The program also includes the school store run by teacher Darcy Brown and bagel shop run by Sean Coyle. Aides Sue McGowan, Felicia Dull and and Carolyn Johnston assist students in mastering the math, writing and customer service skills they will need on a job.

“We tell them when you are working you can’t stop to talk to your friends when they come in,” Butrus said. “This is a business and a class. We want them to build a work ethic.”

(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, the Kentucky State Police is reminding drivers not to get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking. The agency recently partnered with the HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers®, a multi-state program that promotes the use of sober drivers during celebrations such as St. Patrick’s Day. The HERO Campaign was inspired by the tragic loss of Ensign John Elliott, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, who was killed in a collision caused by a drunk driver.

“Before choosing to drink, choose a sober designated driver. We want people to enjoy their celebrations. More importantly, we want to ensure that the driver, their passengers and everyone on our roads arrive home safely,” says Tpr. Michael Webb. “Drunk driving is always preventable, and life is too precious to be lost in a senseless tragedy.”

According to NHTSA, on average, every 51 minutes a person is killed in a drunk-driving crash in the United States and the majority of these crashes involve drunk drivers who have blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of .15 or higher, almost twice the legal limit of .08 BAC.

“We are cognizant of planned activities across the state and will have increased patrols on the roadways in an effort to remove impaired drivers from the road,” adds Webb. “When a person chooses to drive while intoxicated, they risk the safety and well being of others. Make no mistake, if you are caught driving impaired, you will go to jail.”

In 2012, state and local law enforcement made 28,254 DUI arrests in Kentucky. Additionally, there were nearly 5,000 alcohol-related crashes resulting in 145 deaths.

Webb encourages citizens and retail liquor establishments to visit the Kentucky Hero webpage to find out how they can become involved in the program at http://kentuckyheroes.org/.

Louisville Metro Police Dept. (LMPD) Chief Steve Conrad (left) and Kentucky State Police (KSP) Commissioner Rodney Brewer (right) display a new HERO bumper sticker that represents a partnership between the agencies designed to save lives by promoting the use of designated drivers. The sticker will appear on 900 LMPD vehicles and 1,600 KSP vehicles.

The HERO Campaign’s mission is to end drunk-driving fatalities, injuries and accidents nationwide by promoting designated driving and reminding the public to drive sober. It was established by the family of U.S. Navy Ensign John Elliott of Atlantic County, N.J., who was killed in 2000 in a head-on collision with a drunken driver.

The campaign works in cooperation with schools, businesses, law enforcement agencies and other community-based organizations to promote the use of safe and sober designated drivers to prevent drunken driving tragedies. Businesses, including bars, taverns and restaurants, are invited to display posters and window decals identifying the locations as HERO sites and are asked to serve free soft drinks to sober designated drivers.

Law enforcement agencies can participate by displaying HERO Campaign decals on their cars and schools are being encouraged to start HERO Campaign chapters and integrate the campaign into their DUI prevention and educational programs. For more information on the HERO Campaign, visit http://kentuckyheroes.org/

West Long Branch, NJ – Monmouth University senior Daniel Mangraviti of Holmdel, NJ, was named Designated Driver HERO of the Year at a ceremony held at Monmouth University on February 5. Daniel will be featured on HERO Campaign billboards located on the New Jersey Turnpike. In addition, he received a $300 Monmouth Mall gift certificate, a plaque and a HERO campaign tee shirt. Sarah Coff received the second place award, and Ryan Forrest received the third place award. Honorable mention was given to Cody Ster.

Bill Elliot holds a banner that is featured on the HERO Campaign Billboard on New Jersey Turnpike

Tim Canavan and Nick Petitti, owners of Jack’s Goal Line Stand in Long Branch, received the Community Award for their outstanding work and dedication to saving lives by promoting the mission of the HERO Campaign for designated drivers. Jack’s has been a supporter of the Campaign for many years by serving free soft drinks to designated drivers and supporting Monmouth University HERO Nights. In addition, Mike and Laura Horne of Freehold, NJ, received the Community Award for their efforts to start up a HERO 5k in Monmouth County this year in memory of their son, Chad.

The HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers is dedicated to preventing drunken driving tragedies by promoting the use of safe and sober designated drivers. Established in October 2000 in memory of Navy Ensign John Elliott of New Jersey, the campaign has grown to become a national movement to save lives on our highways. Ensign Elliott was a May 2000 graduate of the United States Naval Academy who was killed in a head-on collision with a drunken driver on July 22, 2000.

Monmouth University adopted the HERO Campaign in 2007 and is the model school for the program. Monmouth’s HERO Campaign promotes the use of sober designated drivers through clubs and organizations on campus.
For more information, contact Monmouth University Substance Awareness Coordinator Suanne Schaad at 732-263-5804 or visit herocampaign.org.

http://www.ahherald.com/newsbrief-mainmenu-2/monmouth-county-news/14893-designated-driver-hero-of-the-year-daniel-mangraviti