Returning home safely with Sober Ride

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
Driving under the influence is a choice that no one should make. Making that choice could ruin a career or end a life.

That's why members from Moody volunteer every weekend to ensure this never has to happen and that fellow Airmen can rely on a safe ride home. This is where Sober Ride comes in.

"Sober Ride is strictly a volunteer program that is designed to help Airmen return home safely after a night out," said Senior Airman Michael Inman, Sober Ride president. "However, the program is a fail-safe measure and should never be used as an individual's main plan for getting home."

Someone should always have a main plan like a designated driver, a taxi but Sober Ride is always there as.

Sober Ride operates from 10 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., Friday and Saturday nights.

Without volunteers from base, the program would not be able to continue on as a safe alternate to getting home.

That's why members like Darrell Fox, 23rd Force Support Squadron management analyst have been volunteering for Sober Ride.

"This program gives me an opportunity to help out all the young Airmen on base and keep them out of trouble," said Mr. Fox. "I have been volunteering for around three years now and try to do this least once a month."

Since November 2010, Sober Ride had received approximately 120 calls and picked up nearly 250 Airmen.

"In the future I hope Airmen feel comfortable calling Sober Ride when they need it instead of risking their life or someone else's life by drinking and driving," said Airman Inman. "There should be no reason that there are any DUIs on this base when this program is here to help."

The Sober Ride program recently received a check from a community group to help fund the program and help fund their goal to ensure Airmen have a safe ride home when under the influence.

To volunteer for Sober Ride, members can contact Airman Inman at 229-257-2175 or Stormi St John at 229-257-3808. To contact Sober Ride on the weekend, call 229-257-6237 (25-SOBER).