RI Police Stepping Up DUI Patrols This Thanksgiving

PROVIDENCE, RI — Extra patrols will be on the road to stop drunken drivers this Thanksgiving weekend, Rhode Island State Police said. DUI crashes generally spike around the holidays, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"We know friends and families will be especially excited to gather around the Thanksgiving table this year," Col. James Manni said. "Unfortunately, drunk driving is a real threat to our community, and that threat increases during holidays like Thanksgiving. Driving under the influence is deadly and illegal, and no one should ever take that risk."

Thanksgiving Eve is generally one of the deadliest nights for DUI crashes. According to the NHTSA, there were 135 fatal crashes in the U.S. involving alcohol from 2015 to 2019 on just the night before Thanksgiving. Over the full holiday weekend from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Monday, there were approximately 800 fatal crashes involving alcohol. In 2019, there were four times as many fatal crashes involving alcohol during the evening hours than during the daytime during the Thanksgiving holiday period.

Rhode Island State Police reminded drivers that the blood alcohol limit to drive is 0.08. The department offered these tips to celebrate safely this Thanksgiving weekend.

• Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
• If available, use your community’s sober ride program.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact your local police department or the Rhode Island State Police.
• Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.