KADD program remade for 2019

  • Published
  • By By Jim Fisher
  • Kirtland PA

The Kirtland Against Drunk Driving program has been redesigned for 2019, with the ride-haling service Lyft replacing volunteers as the mode of transport for inebriated Airmen in need of a ride home.

The new program takes effect the weekend of Jan. 4 and 5. KADD remains available to provide rides each Friday and Saturday from 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.

The revised program is not fundamentally different for the rider, according to Senior Master Sgt. Dan Burton, 58th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron first sergeant. The Kirtland First Sergeants Council is responsible for the redesign and running of the KADD program.

“This new program will work very similarly to the old program,” Burton said. “The rider does not pay for the ride home. The Team Kirtland First Sergeant Council will foot the bill for these rides on a monthly basis.”

When Airmen recognize they may be impaired and opt for a responsible alternative to getting behind the wheel, they can call the KADD phone. First sergeants will rotationally man the line, and after receiving a name, cell number and location, interface with Lyft, Burton explained.

“The KADD administrator will plug that information into our newly founded Lyft Concierge service, and a Lyft driver will be dispatched to the member’s location,” Burton said. “The Lyft driver’s information will be passed to the rider so that they know who to look for—make and model of the [Lyft driver’s] car, license plate number and name of the driver.”

The rider will not pay for the ride home, Burton said. However, like the old KADD system, it should not be considered a primary plan for a ride home.

“This is to be used in situations where a primary plan is no longer available, or someone is in dire need of a ride home,” Burton said. The program will be monitored to guard against abuse. However, the safety of Airmen remains the primary concern. “Please remember that KADD should never be a primary plan for getting home. However, do not let that deter you from using this program to get you and your friends home safely.”

The First Sergeants Council was looking at more than 900 hours logged for KADD thus far in 2018 and a way to give volunteers time back that could be spent with friends and family.

“We had 234 volunteers that worked 936 hours just on KADD alone,” Burton said. “And that time was spent during the most valuable time to many—the weekend. So we researched how to alleviate that onus, and came up with the new program.”

The shirts were also concerned about mitigating volunteers taking on the liability inherent in the old program. Volunteers were using their personal vehicles for the service.  

The new KADD phone number is 505-238-2070.