December 2012/January 2013 Smart, Safe & Sober Newsletter

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WRAP’s Successful Launch of Region’s Cab-Cop Car

“The ‘Chooser Cruiser’ is a useful reminder of the costs of drunk driving.”
- The Washington Post, 11-23-12

While Greater Washington residents prepared last week for the Thanksgiving holiday, WRAP teamed-up with partners the Arlington County Police Department and Red Top Cab to successfully launch the region’s new, innovative and specially-outfitted motor vehicle designed to deter impaired driving in the metro area.

Unveiled at a well-attended, outdoor news conference on Tuesday, November 20 on North Courthouse Road outside the Arlington County Judicial Center, WRAP, Arlington County Police and Red Top Cab launched the operable and tactical four-wheeled vehicle that can only be described as a hybrid taxicab / police cruiser. The front of the Ford Crown Victoria is an Arlington County police car (including being outfitted with real police lights); the rear of the vehicle is a yellow cab with the decaled message, “choose your ride.” The vehicle, nicknamed the “Chooser Cruiser,” is a joint initiative between the aforementioned three organizations and aims to serve as a poignant reminder this holiday season that, as every drunk driving incident is 100-percent preventable, people have a choice in how they’re transported at the end of an evening.

For those of you unable to attend the news conference launch – which was attended by all of Greater Washington’s major television affiliates as well as the region’s news radio stations – I offer you the following media links regarding the “Chooser Cruiser’s” unveiling:

• lead Washington Post story (11-20-12) announcing the “head-turner” vehicle: A New Ride to Raise Alcohol Awareness;

• Washington Post editorial (11-23-12) touting the vehicle as a “useful reminder of the costs of drunk driving”: ’Chooser Cruiser’ on the Hunt for Drunk Drivers;

• a sampling of successful media placements surrounding last week’s launch: Chooser Cruiser Media Placements;

• as an example of last week’s broadcast media coverage, News4’s (NBC) story (11-20-12) on the launch: News4 Story on Chooser Cruiser (begins at 00:25);

• a three-minute video (courtesy of Arlington TV) of last Tuesday’s launch event: Arlington TV Video of Chooser Cruiser;

• and online photos of the Chooser Cruiser: Chooser Cruiser Photos; along with WRAP’s official news release on the same: Chooser Cruiser News Release.
  
  (The web site ArlNow.com also has a gallery of Chooser Cruiser photos from last Tuesday’s event viewable online here, FYI.)

(WRAP does not currently subscribe to a media clipping or video monitoring service thereby making the aforementioned placements only a fraction of what was likely, actually run.)

Attention continues to be afforded this mobile billboard including a significant, pending feature in this Friday’s Washington Hispanic newspaper.

Thank you to WRAP Board members Wayne Miller and Arlington County Police Department Lieutenant Bob Medairos whom not only spearheaded this project but also provided the in-kind services to equip this compelling static display.

Kurt Gregory Erickson
President & CEO,
Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP)
tel 703.893.0461
fax 703.893.0465
e kurt@wrap.org
http www.wrap.org

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