EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. (May 23, 2018) – This summer the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign will be asking thousands of motorists to help it prevent drunk driving by displaying HERO decals on their vehicles and taking the HERO Pledge to be designated drivers.

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the “Highway HEROES Challenge” plans to distribute free decals to more than 10,000 motorists throughout southern New Jersey. If their decals are spotted by HERO volunteers, some 300 lucky drivers will receive gift certificates to local businesses, a chance to enter a grand prize drawing, and an invitation to share pictures of their car decals on the campaign’s social media sites.

The HERO decals will be available at more than 40 businesses, restaurants, bars and taverns at the Jersey Shore, beginning this Friday, May 25, at the 100 Days of Summer celebration to be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Farley Service Area on the Atlantic City Expressway.

“Highway HEROES will give the public an easy but powerful way to join our campaign and promote our life-saving designated driver message,” said Bill Elliott, chairman of the HERO Campaign, which was established in memory of his son, Navy Ensign John Elliott, who was killed by a drunk driver on July, 2000.  Elliott said the summer program is a follow up to last summer’s successful HEROtini Challenge which attracted over 350,000 votes for the best non-alcoholic mocktails prepared by bartenders at the Jersey Shore.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10,497 people died in alcohol-impaired crashes in 2016, a 1.7 percent increase from the previous year. Also in 2016, alcohol-impaired incidents accounted for 28 percent of all crash fatalities. For more information about the ‘Highway HEROES’ initiative, click here.

 This is the HERO Campaign decal to be displayed by thousands of motorists this summer.

Bartenders and servers at the Anchorage Tavern in Somers Point, NJ

will be wearing shirts promoting the HERO Campaign this summer.