Call HADD when you need a ride after drinking

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Lisa Spilinek
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Airmen here are taking a stand against driving under the influence of alcohol. The Hanscom Against Drunk Driving program has been revitalized and the program's new leaders want the base community to know that if they drink and need someone to drive them home safely, help is available. 

The service is available to anyone with a valid Department of Defense identification card and is completely anonymous, said Staff Sgt. Bethany Lanski, 66th Comptroller Squadron and secretary for the HADD program. 

Those interested in using the service should call the HADD hotline at (781) 858-3364. Callers will need to provide their location, the number in their party and a brief description of their appearance so the responding driver will be able to identify them. 

Callers will be driven to their homes for free; under no circumstances will callers be driven to another party or drinking establishment, said Tech. Sgt. Wayne Griggs, 66th Security Forces Squadron and the HADD vice president. 

Drivers are available from 6 p.m. Fridays to 6 a.m. Mondays and can pick callers up from locations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Southern New Hampshire. The service is also available during the evenings of scheduled base events. 

In fact, the HADD program leaders have procured a van to transport base residents back to their homes following the Sept. 14 Air Force Ball. While the van service will only be available to those living on base, individuals living off base will still be able to utilize the off-base service. 

The reasoning behind the HADD program is simple. "The bottom line is that one [drunken driving incident] is too many," said Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Tomkiewicz, 66 SFS and HADD public relations representative. 

"Just one person affects the whole mission of the base, said Tech. Sgt. Shon Teicheira, 66 SFS and HADD program president. "Since the Air Force adopted the 0-0-1-3 policy, I think each base does what it can to take it even further. This is our way of going beyond 0-0-1-3 and letting [Airmen] know, 'Hey, we're here.'" 

The Air Force included the 0-0-1-3 in its Culture of Responsible Choices Campaign in 2006. The "first and second zeros" restate the law of zero underage alcohol use and zero driving while under the influence, or impaired by alcohol. The "one" indicates one drink per hour (one 12-ounce beer, 4 to 5 percent alcohol, or 1.5 ounce shot of 80-proof alcohol, or one 5-ounce glass of wine at 11 percent alcohol). The "three" stands for no more than three drinks per evening of alcohol use. 

To remind Hanscom people of the HADD program, representatives have been distributing cards during base events, including the recent Safety Day. Supervisors can request cards for distribution from Sergeant Teicheira at (781) 377-0440 or Sergeant Griggs at (781) 377-6466. 

The group's goal is to get the word out about the service before the approaching holiday season, which typically sees a higher rate of drunken driving incidents, Sergeant Teicheira said. 

Some may find it interesting that three of the HADD leaders are assigned to the 66 SFS, to which Sergeant Teicheira said, "Honestly, as a whole, we'd rather have someone get home safely than pull them over and process an [Operating Under the Influence] and see careers end." 

"We don't care [who you are]. If you need a ride, you need a ride," Sergeant Lanski said. "There are no repercussions and we're not going to tell your boss. We just want you to get home safely." 

Additional drivers are being sought to help with the program. A short training session that emphasizes driving safety tips and driver responsibilities is required before one can become a driver. For more information about the program or to volunteer, call Sergeant Teicheira at (781) 377-0440 or Sergeant Griggs at (781) 377-6466.