Students learn dangers of drinking and driving
Middlesex becomes first county to join HERO campaign

JEFF GRANIT staff Kim Mosley, 16, of Woodbridge, tries to get control of her golf cart while wearing simulated drunken-driving goggles on a course set up at the Middlesex Vocational and Technical High School's East Brunswick campus Tuesday.

EAST BRUNSWICK - Dozens of "heroes" were born Tuesday, as Middlesex County officials and business owners gathered to become part of a national designated driver program.

Middlesex became the first county in the nation to be designated a "HERO County" as part of the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers at a ceremony held at the East Brunswick campus of the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical High Schools, Rues Lane.

The program, whose motto is: "Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver," was founded by William Elliott after his son John was killed by a man who had been arrested for driving under the influence and released the same evening while still intoxicated. That driver also died in the accident, which took place in South Jersey in 2000.

John Elliott, an Egg Harbor native and squad leader at the U.S. Naval Academy, was 23 years old.

William Elliott has turned his son's tragedy into a call for action by enlisting officials, business owners, law enforcement and even sports figures to promote designated driving through education and awareness. The cities of Boston, Houston and Key West participate, as do the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands.

"No parent should ever lose a son or daughter to a drunken driver," Elliott said. "We promised our son we would do everything possible to prevent other families from experiencing the agony of our loss."

The John R. Elliott HERO Campaign - a reference to the election of John by his Naval Academy peers as a human education resource officer (HERO) to counsel and mentor others - has been endorsed by the New Jersey State Police, which displays HERO bumper stickers on its 3,000 trooper cars. HERO signs are also displayed at toll booths along the Garden State Parkway each summer.

"There is no question the HERO Campaign has helped reduce drunken driving incidents and has saved lives," said Lt. John Muccino of the State Police Highway Safety Division. Muccino said he believes one day the campaign will make designated driving as automatic and commonplace as wearing a seatbelt.

Businesses throughout Middlesex County will display posters, circulate brochures and car window decals, and sell blue "HERO" wristbands to promote the designated driver campaign.

In an effort to educate teens on the dangers of drinking, the county has created HERO chapters in the high schools that will focus solely on preventing drunk driving and underage drinking.

"We have watched the Elliotts honor their son's memory with the dream of saving lives in his memory," said Freeholder H. James Polos, chairman of the county's HERO Campaign. "We want

to help them turn that dream into reality."

William Elliott and State Police Major Heidi S. Scripture addressed student leaders from the five campuses of the county's vocational and technical high schools Tuesday in East Brunswick, and students then took part in an exercise that simulates drunken driving in order to underscore the dangers of it.

The vocational-technical school district is the first in the state to join the school campaign, which focuses on preventing underage drinking. Also as part of the campaign, high school students will spread the message of using designated drivers to the district's adult education students.

"The Middlesex County Vocational and Technical High Schools are deeply concerned about the danger to our community presented by drinking and driving," said Superintendent of Schools Karen McCloud-Hjazeh. "I believe that our young people have a powerful voice and their voices will be heard on this important issue through this public awareness campaign. The unique aspect of the program is that these youth are reminding adults about responsible behaviors associated with drinking and driving."

The Elliotts also have championed new state laws, including John's Law I, which requires police to impound the cars of drunken driving suspects for up to 12 hours after they are arrested. John's Law II allows municipalities to require police to detain suspected drunk drivers until they are sober for up to eight hours.

President Bush signed a national John's Law in August 2005, providing federal highway grant incentives to states adopting the John's Law car impoundment provisions.