The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is committed to saving lives by eliminating impaired driving in the Ocean State. Every crash caused by an impaired driver is 100% preventable, and we are dedicated to ending the senseless deaths and serious injuries that continue to occur on our roadways.
OHS addresses impaired driving through a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach that supports every stage of the impaired driving system, from prevention and education to enforcement, forensic testing, and case adjudication. This includes funding high-visibility enforcement efforts that deter and remove impaired drivers from our roadways while investing in evidence-informed programs and partnerships that promote lasting behavior change and a culture of safe, responsible driving.
In addition, RIDOT engages the public through impactful education and media campaigns, including initiatives such as The Ripple Effect, an Emmy Award-winning public awareness campaign that highlights the far-reaching consequences of impaired driving and encourages safer driving behaviors.
Impaired driving continues to be a significant concern in Rhode Island. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 37% of Rhode Island's traffic fatalities in 2024 involved a driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, exceeding the national average of 30%. Among those alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes, 84% had a BAC of 0.15 or higher; nearly twice the legal limit.
In 2025 Rhode Island law enforcement agencies made a total of 3,227 DUI arrests, with 70% of those arrested for DUI refusing to submit to a chemical test. The people who did submit to a chemical test had an average BAC of 0.16, double the legal limit.
RI State Police Traffic Safety Unit (TSU)
In 2019, RIDOT and the Rhode Island State Police established the Traffic Safety Unit (TSU), a dedicated full-time patrol unit committed to reducing impaired driving through focused daily enforcement efforts. Comprised of highly trained troopers specializing in impaired driving detection and apprehension, the TSU aims to remove impaired drivers from Rhode Island roadways. Since its inception through May 2026, the TSU has made 2,624 DUI arrests; helping to prevent the devastating consequences of impaired driving crashes.
RI Municipal Police
In addition to the TSU, RIDOT also supports overtime DUI patrols by approximately 39 municipal police departments. Participating officers must be fully trained in the use of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) or Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) detection techniques. Drug Recognition Experts perform evaluations of drivers suspected to be under the influence of drugs other than alcohol.
BAT Mobile (Blood Alcohol Testing Mobile Unit)
The BAT Mobile is a mobile DUI enforcement and testing unit used by police departments across the state to identify, process, and test impaired drivers during targeted enforcement operations. The unit streamlines the DUI arrest process, allowing officers to process impaired drivers more efficiently and return to enforcement efforts sooner. RIDOT supports the Providence Police Department (PPD) with necessary equipment and overtime funding each time the BAT Mobile is utilized.
Tori Lynn Andreozzi Foundation - Impairment and the Older Driver
The Tori Lynn Andreozzi Foundation brings together audiences for informative and interactive presentations designed to increase awareness of the dangers of impaired driving. The program focuses on educating adults ages 60 and older who are overrepresented in alcohol-related traffic fatalities.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) – Impaired Driving Education Programs
MADD addresses impaired driving through education, advocacy, prevention, and collaboration. Through Road to Zero presentations, MADD engages adults ages 21–50, a group at elevated risk for impaired driving, through interactive presentations highlighting impaired driving statistics and prevention strategies. MADD's Power of You(th) programs empower Rhode Island youth to make safe choices related to underage drinking, impaired driving, and riding with an impaired driver. In partnership with RIDOT and state and municipal law enforcement agencies, MADD also supports annual Honor Patrols from December 24–31, dedicated to victims and survivors of impaired driving crashes. Additionally, MADD produces RIDOT-funded media campaigns that share victim stories and impaired driving prevention messages.
Rhode Island Hospitality Association (RIHA) – Responsible Beverage Service
RIHA promotes responsible beverage service throughout Rhode Island's hospitality
industry by providing ServSafe® Alcohol training to 350 individuals in food service roles, including bartenders, servers, valets, and other staff involved in the sale or service of alcohol. The training supports statewide efforts to reduce impaired driving and improve public safety by equipping frontline employees with the knowledge and tools necessary for responsible alcohol service.
Blackstone Valley Prevention Coalition – Regional Youth Coalition
The Blackstone Valley Regional Youth Coalition addresses issues impacting high school students and young drivers in Burrillville, Central Falls, Cumberland, Lincoln, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, and Woonsocket schools. The coalition works to educate youth and shift perceptions surrounding alcohol, underage drinking, substance use, and the potentially devastating consequences of impaired and distracted driving.