Parsippany's Mayor Among Co-Hosts for Distracted Driving Seminar

HANOVER TOWNSHIP, NJ - Parsippany's Mayor Barberio is one of the local area Mayors co-hosting a seminar for residents on distracted driving.  This event is championed by Hanover Township Mayor Thomas "Ace" Gallagher as part of his Mayor's Wellness campaign.  The event will take place in late May

The purpose of the event is the following as distributed in a news release by the Township of Hanover:

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Distracted and impaired driving is an epidemic that is sweeping our country causing more than 40,000 deaths annually. We believe it is imperative that we do more than simply convey our sympathy to those who have lost loved ones. Mayor
Thomas “Ace” Gallagher along with his esteemed colleagues have taken the initiative to raise awareness in their
community and promote a culture of safety by first addressing the subject with teens. Safety is important and so is the
need to be proactive rather than reactive. Fatalities double between Memorial Day and Labor Day when young drivers
head down the shore and spend a lot more time on the roads. It is a proven fact that young drivers are most at risk, as
they are most easily distracted. Mayor Gallagher is extending an invitation for drivers of all ages but, particularly new drivers
to attend this incredibly emotional yet informational program where pizza, pastries and beverages will be served.
Provisions have been made for streaming and video. Seatng is limited, so please be sure to sign up on
mayorswellness@hanovertownship.com or by calling 973-428-2463.

Leading the program with a firsthand account of the devastation brought about by distracted and impaired driving is Pam
O’Donnell, a wife and mother whose husband and 5-year-old daughter were killed by an impaired driver on February 22,
2016. Designed to connect with the audience in a relatable, authentic and emotional way, Pam’s program will make new
drivers aware of how distracted and impaired driving takes lives, destroys families and harms communities.
Rather than allow her family to have died in vain, Pam has concentrated on becoming a catalyst for change by increasing
awareness of the dangers of impaired driving. Throughout the past 8 years, she has become a qualified educator who has
made it her life’s work to advocate on behalf of the victims of such preventable tragedies. She has founded the non-profit,
Catch You Later Foundation, which raises awareness and donates scholarship money in honor of her family. In addition,
she is the first civilian in NJ to become a police-trained Commissioned Certified Instructor responsible for presenting classes
at many of the police academies and a Certified Instructor for NJ State Police. She implemented a car crash re-creation for
Bayonne High School, has done podcasts, is often asked by organizations to be their keynote speaker and has recently
become a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. With a whole list of credentials and experience as a
speaker who travels countrywide to get her message across, Pam O’Donell is finding herself in demand as she continues
her mission to teach ways to recognize the risks, keep focus on driving and learn how to make better decisions.

Hosted by:

• James Gannon, Morris County Sheriff
• Mayor Mark Taylor, Florham Park
• Mayor James R. Barberio, Parsippany-Troy Hills
• Mayor Jason Karr, Morris Plains
• Denise Brennan, Supt. Recreation, Hanover Township
• Mayor Joe Pannullo, East Hanover
• Mayor James Davis, Bayonne
• Ret. Police Chief, Ralph Scianni, Bayonne
• Mayor Timothy Dougherty, Morristown

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