On May 13, LRHSD ‘s Heads Up, Eyes Forward! campaign committee held another important event in which Lenape High School student Matt McGrorty was the driving force. McGrorty interviewed Medford Township chief of police, Richard Meder, regarding the importance of the Heads Up, Eyes Forward! safe driving campaign. NJDOT executive director of transportation systems management Dennis Motiani also arrived at Lenape High School for an interview with McGrorty regarding how NJDOT partnered with the Lenape Regional High School District’s Heads Up, Eyes Forward! campaign.
McGrorty learned of the importance of the campaign when he conducted the interviews.
“From the interviews, I definitely got the sense of urgency in relaying this serious message to drivers. I knew it was urgent and important to begin with, but when I interviewed safety officials, I felt more than ever that this was more than just a message to be delivered. I realized that for every person who heard this message, there was someone who hasn’t yet heard it. It’s hard to make people care about something, so it is important to give them the tools to make educated decisions about how they drive. I think our campaign does this really well, from our videos to the clings and our partnership with the NJDOT. I hope that this campaign continues doing as well as in previous years,” McGrorty said.
McGrorty was asked what he learned from the campaign,
“Working on this campaign has been a very enlightening experience. I was honored to have the NJDOT even consider my request, let alone actually put our message up on highways throughout New Jersey. I think it’s a testament to the idea of it never hurts to ask. Sometimes all you need to do is ask and opportunities can present themselves. I’m ecstatic that I was able to be a part of this campaign and I have the NJDOT and LDTV to thank for all of it,” said McGrorty.
As a result of LRHSD’s campaign, NJDOT ran the Heads Up, Eyes Forward! campaign message on the state’s 160 Dynamic Message Signs on May 13.
The Heads Up, Eyes Forward! message also ran on the Garden State Parkway, NJ Expressway and the AC Expressway’s Dynamic Messages Signs for the entire day.
At an assembly held at Lenape High School, safety service patrol operator Bruce Holmes, NJ State Police Sergeant First Class Michael Abline from the statewide incident management program, and Mr. Motiani spoke to Lenape High School drivers education students about the dangers of distracted driving. Lenape Regional High School District Superintendent of Schools Carol Birnbohm, Ed.D. and Medford Township Chief of Police Richard Meder also attended the program.
