According to the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety annual report, Rhode Island is among the top states in the nation concerning highway safety.
The analysis also determined Rhode Island tied with New York as the top state in the organization’s 2021 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws.
“We appreciate the recognition in this national ranking, which affirms the hard work of law enforcement and all our highway safety partners toward making our roads safer,” RIDOT Director Peter Alviti, Jr. said. “But we know there is much work to do, with overall traffic fatalities on the rise last year and a large percentage of fatal and serious crashes involving impaired drivers. We’ll continue working diligently to make our roads as safe as possible.”
The breakdown ranks the best and worst states regarding progress in enacting 16 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety recommended highway safety laws in the areas of occupant protection, child passenger safety, graduated driver licensing, impaired driving, and distracted driving.
“This recognition underscores that it takes a team effort to make our roadways safer,” said Col. James M. Manni, superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and director of the Department of Public Safety. “Smart policy, strong statutes, and appropriate enforcement are all critical to our shared success. The Rhode Island State Police is proud to have a key role and will continue to leverage all the resources we have to prevent injuries and fatalities on our roads.”
Authorities noted for the fifth consecutive year Rhode Island earned the top spot with 13 out of the 16 recommended laws on the books.