RIDOT Sends Message to Drivers: Texting While Driving is Now Illegal

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and its Office on Highway Safety are sending a message to drivers that it is now illegal to text while driving. Rhode Island is the 19th state, along with the District of Columbia, to pass such a law. Governor Donald L. Carcieri signed this bill into law last night.

Violators caught and convicted of texting while driving will get an $85 fine for the first offense, a $100 fine for the second offense, and a $125 fine for the third offense. This new law took effect immediately upon its passage.

“Driver inattention is a leading cause of motor vehicle crashes and texting has been one of the most egregious forms of it,” said RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis. “This law will help put a driver’s eyes back on the road where they should be.”

RIDOT has plans to alert drivers of this law by running ads, using RIDOT’s highway variable message signs, putting information on social media sites, and reaching out to universities to let students know about the change.

“While this law helps us save lives, RIDOT is continuing to work towards a primary seat belt law. Doing so would prevent serious injuries and save even more lives while providing Rhode Island an additional $3.7 million in transportation infrastructure and highway safety funds,” said Lewis.

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Contact: Dana Alexander Nolfe 401-222-1362 x4450

RIDOT Weekly Traffic Forecast

The RIDOT Traffic Forecast for November 7-13, 2009 is now available. Please visit http://www.tmc.dot.ri.gov/traveladvisories/default.asp.

RIDOT relocating Exit 20 on I-95 South tonight

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) wants to remind motorists that it will be making changes this weekend to traffic patterns on I-95 South in Providence with the relocation of Exit 20 for I-195 East.

Beginning at 11 p.m. tonight, Friday, November 6, 2009, RIDOT will close the existing two-lane ramp for Exit 20 and begin a phased operation of opening a temporary ramp to Exit 20 at the Point Street Overpass, about 1,000 feet south of its current location. During this time, motorists will have only one lane of travel to access I-195 and at least one lane will be closed on I-95 South as well. All work is scheduled to be completed by late morning tomorrow, Saturday, November 7. Motorists should seek alternate routes during this transition period.

The temporary ramp will be in roughly the same location as it was when Exit 20 opened to the Iway in December 2008. Ongoing Iway construction, however, has shifted I-95 South to the left of its original alignment. The new ramp will have a slight incline, and as such, motorists should reduce speed and exercise caution when using it.

The temporary ramp to Exit 20 will be in place through Fall 2010. RIDOT will then relocate Exit 20 to its permanent location, which will be after the Broad Street Overpass.

RIDOT must relocate the access to Exit 20 in order to allow Iway construction to continue. Work scheduled includes construction of a new on-ramp from Point Street to I-95 South, construction of the permanent ramp for Exit 20, and a new Exit 19 from I-95 South to the hospitals area and Eddy Street. The Department anticipates the Point Street and new Eddy Street ramps to open in late 2010.

All schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change. Motorists can expect additional congestion on I-95 South during the first few days as drivers become accustomed to all of these changes. Those seeking additional information can visit the Department’s website, www.dot.ri.gov, or contact RIDOT’s Customer Service office at 401-222-2450 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Contact: Charles St. Martin 401-222-1362 x4007