LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 47th Flying Training Wing’s Base Airmen Against Drunk Driving (B.A.A.D.D.) is a volunteer-based program designed to prevent base personnel from driving under the influence.
The anonymous program offers Airmen of any rank, civilian federal employees, and retirees the option of having another driver safely take them home when they are under the influence and unfit to do so themselves.
“The ultimate goal of B.A.A.D.D. is to have zero alcohol-related incidents within our Laughlin community,” said Airman 1st Class Devin Squires, B.A.A.D.D. vice president. “The intention is to always be available to provide a safe way for Team XL members to make it back home.”
Sometimes plans fall through, maybe the designated driver changed, or for-hire drivers are not available at that time. Whatever the case may be, B.A.A.D.D. is available for Team XL.
B.A.A.D.D. members have only one priority, making sure passengers get home safely, seven days a week when called.
Once someone in need of a ride contacts a dispatcher, B.A.A.D.D. will gather all information and reach out to a volunteer driver to pick up the caller(s). This information includes a brief description of where the individual is, how many people are with them, where they need to be dropped off, and the caller’s phone number.
“If I was to encourage someone to use B.A.A.D.D.,” said Senior Airman Cadence Dixon, B.A.A.D.D. president. “I would mention the risks and dangers that drinking and driving can cause not only to themselves, but to others. It is important to take care of one another. Making this mistake can cost someone their career or even their life, which is why we offer this service to protect them from losing it.”
According to the United States Department of Transportation (USDT), about 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving-related crashes every day - that is one person every 39 minutes.
As alcohol levels rise in the blood, adverse effects on the central nervous system increase. Symptoms of this can include slurred speech, impaired coordination, slowed reaction times and reflexes, dizziness, drowsiness, and more.
A Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) measurement of .08 g/dL of alcohol in the blood increases crash risk exponentially as well. It’s illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher in all states, including Texas.
As stated on the USDT website, “even small amounts of alcohol impair driving. In 2021, 2,266 people died in alcohol-related crashes with a driver’s BAC between .01 and .07 g/dL.”
To prevent incidents like these, B.A.A.D.D. is working hard to spread awareness of their program and invite base personnel to use the resource or join in working together to save lives.
“My main reason for joining this committee is because I know many people, including my uncle, who have died in a drinking and driving incident,” said Dixon, ”it is very important to me to help keep people from making that mistake and ruining their life.”
Being that helping hand, caring for one another and being a safe and free option for Airmen has been very rewarding for me. For this reason, I believe everyone should volunteer.”
B.A.A.D.D. is always looking for military or civilian all that is required is a valid driver’s license and a vehicle. Anyone can sign up by calling or texting the B.A.A.D.D. phone number at 830-298-4663.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving