Washington Township will provide free Uber rides home from 16 local bars and restaurants as part of newly implemented “Washington Township Saves Lives” program
By Krista Cerminaro
Washington Township has taken the next step in preventing bar and restaurant patrons from drinking and driving.
On Wednesday, March 14, Mayor Joann Gattinelli, along with a number of Washington Township officials, held a press conference to announce the implementation of the “Washington Township Saves Lives” program, originally started in Evesham Township by Mayor Randy Brown.
Gattinelli explained Washington Township will be partnering with Uber to provide residents with free rides home from any of the 16 local bars and restaurants that will take part in the initiative. The program went live as of March 14, according to Confidential Aide for Mayor Gattinelli, Alicia Rotella.
“Since this program was initiated in Evesham, the township has seen an 80 percent decrease in DWI [and] DUI arrests involving Evesham residents in the past two-and-a-half years,” Gattinelli said.
Brown said the program was able to bring 6,000 Evesham residents home safely, for just more than $10,000.
Brown also partnered with Voorhees Mayor Michael Mignogna to expand the program to Voorhees Township. Washington Township will be the third municipality to implement the program, according to Uber representative Craig Ewer.
“By making it easier and more affordable to get a safe ride with the push of a button, we can begin to turn the tide on drunk driving,” Ewer said.
“We’ve been able to put a program together, with the partnership of our local communities, and implement this program to be the first of its kind in the United States of America,” Brown said. “We’re hoping that we can continue to take this program to save not just the lives of Gloucester County, Burlington County and Camden County residents, but residents all over New Jersey.”
Gattinelli also mentioned the program is funded completely by private donations, and will not use any taxpayer dollars.
“A separate not-for-profit entity has been set up to administer the program with Uber,” Gattinelli said.
Participating bars and restaurants have also helped fund the program — starting with PJ Whelihan’s, the first participant to make a $2,500 donation.
Speakers at the press conference included Voorhees Township Committeewoman and Public Safety Director Michelle Nocito, Chief of Police Pat Gurcsik, Gloucester County Freeholder Heather Simmons and Joseph Devine, state Division of Jefferson Health president and executive vice president of hospital and health services at Jefferson Health.
“It is our belief that by adopting organizational strategies associated with community caretaking, that we can better address serious neighborhood concerns, such as the problem of drunk driving,” Gurcsik said.
According to Gurcsik, the township had more than 100 arrests involving drunk driving last year.
“We are hopeful that community participation in the use of ‘Washington Township Saves Lives’ exceeds all expectations,” Gurcsik said. “If one life is saved, the program will be a huge success.”
“Not only can it save your life, it can save the life of an innocent family coming home from the movies one night,” Brown added.
According to Ewer, participating bar and restaurant patrons can download the Uber app and utilize their free UberX ride back to any Washington Township residence. The offer is available Monday through Thursday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Friday through Sunday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. When you request the ride, a $0 fare will be displayed and the charge will be covered by “Washington Township Saves Lives.”
Also among attendees were Mothers Against Drunk Driving representative Steven Benvenisti, Washington Township council representatives and others.
Gattinelli credited Township Solicitor Stuart Platt, Washington Township Police Capt. Kenneth Kennedy, Business Administrator Jason Gonter and Attorney David Thatcher — among many others — for making the program a reality, and Tom Fletcher of PostNet in Washington Township for donating signs to be hung up in participating bars, notifying guests about how to use the program.
Among participating Washington Township bars and restaurants are House of Brews, Otts on the Green, PJ Whelihans, Terra Nova, The Village Pub and many others.
A full list of participating locations can be found at www.uber.com/blog/new-york/partnerships.
