Rhode Island Traffic Safety Advocates Urge Thanksgiving Sober Driving

Traffic safety advocates held a joint news conference Wednesday to urge Rhode Islanders to make safe, sober driving a top priority this Thanksgiving holiday.

With increased travel, holiday celebrations, and social gatherings, advocates stressed that every Rhode Islander has a role to play in preventing tragedy on the roads.

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“This is one of the busiest travel times of the year and given that many holiday traditions involve alcohol at some point, it’s imperative for drivers to double down on safe behavior and make sure they have a sober driver take them home,” Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti said in a media release.

“We’re not telling people what to do with their celebrations," Alviti said. "We’re telling them to plan ahead, assume responsibility for their actions, and never get behind the wheel when impaired.”

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"Our message today is clear: be thankful, be safe, be sober," Colonel Michael Winquist, chief of police for the city of Cranston and secretary of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association said in the release.

"Planning ahead is key to ensuring this happens. Before leaving your home, make a plan for a safe ride," Winquist said. "Call a rideshare. Designate a friend or family member as the sober driver. Arrange to stay the night. Whatever method you choose, make sure the plan is in place before you head out the door. And the same rule applies to Thanksgiving Day itself. Every seat you set at your table matters, and the only way to ensure everyone arrives safely and returns home safely is by driving sober."

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“Alcohol-impaired driving is a devastating reality we see every day at Rhode Island Hospital," Dr. Lynn Sweeney, attending physician at Brown University Health, said in the release.

"These dozens of preventable deaths and hundreds of injuries statewide include not only drivers but passengers and innocent bystanders as well," Sweeney said. "These are not just numbers. They are the unmistakable sound of grief that echoes through our trauma bay doors when a family is told their daughter, brother, husband, mother is never coming home again."

“The moments we celebrate mean the most when everyone makes it home safely," Cathy Andreozzi, founder and executive director of the Tori Lynn Andreozzi Foundation, said in the release.

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"Let’s make responsible choices today so there’s more to be thankful for tomorrow," Andreozzi said.

Rhode Island has had 36 motor vehicle-related fatalities so far this year, according to the release.

The advocates urged motorists to plan ahead by designating a sober driver, using rideshare or public transit, and intervening to prevent friends and family from driving impaired.

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