RI Gets High Marks For Highway Safety In National Report

RHODE ISLAND — A national report released this week gave Rhode Island high marks when it comes to highway safety initiatives and traffic safety laws that help reduce crashes that result in serious injuries and deaths.

The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety ranked Rhode Island in the top tier of states in its 2023 Roadmap to Safety report. Rhode Island is one of just five states, plus the District of Columbia, to be so mentioned.

Rhode Island's ranking reflects the many highway safety laws RIDOT advocated for over the years including primary enforcement seat belt laws, rear facing through age 2 and booster seat laws, ignition interlock laws, driver text messaging laws, open container laws and more.

"Safety is the highest priority, and Rhode Island's excellent national ranking in this report is a reflection of the hard work we have done," RIDOT Director Peter Alviti said. "We have invested millions of dollars in engineered safety improvements, funding law enforcement efforts and public service messaging to make our roads safer and help change the culture of dangerous driving behaviors such as driving drunk or high, texting while driving, speeding and not buckling up."

State officials said Rhode Island's fatal crash rate is trending well below prior years. As of Wednesday, Rhode Island has lost 45 people in fatal crashes on state highways. At this point of the year, 60 people died in fatal crashes in 2021 with 65 deaths reported in 2020.