Holiday message: ‘Don’t let poor judgment determine the rest of your life’

For the last year Peter Alviti has spent a lot of time talking about the Washington Bridge. And on Thursday Alviti was in front of the cameras again. But this time there wasn’t a word about the bridge, what it might cost or when construction might start.
Alviti had a story, not one to be celebrated at this time of year.
“It takes one second. Probably less than a second to let poor judgment determine the rest of your life, or maybe determine the end of the life of someone you love. And in that millisecond, you will have lost it all. You will never again know the simple joys of daily life. You will never again have that cup of morning coffee without the image of what you did hanging over you. You will be remembered by your family and your friends and complete strangers as the person who killed another person in a drunk driving crash.”
Stretching to the right of Alviti against the wall in the offices of Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Warwick was a line of uniformed law enforcement officers. They stood at parade rest, erect with their hands clasped in front of them. They were silent. They didn’t applaud Alviti, or for that matter,r any of the other speakers.
While recognizing this is a time for the coming together of family and friends, the universal message – actually more of a plea - was for people to make a good decision and turn the driving over to someone else if have been drinking.
“It’s about the irreversible risk you’re taking with your life and the lives of others,” said Warwick Police Chief and President of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association, Col. Brad Connor. “The solution is simple: decide before you drive. It’s a commitment to ensuring you and everyone around you stays safe,” he said.
Jillian Young, AAA Northeast director of public relations urged people to use their phones as a means for a safe ride.
“Through a text to a friend, a rideshare app. There is no excuse for getting behind the wheel impaired. So please plan ahead, because it could save a life.”
Police will also be stepping up DUI enforcement across the state, said Connor.
“Police departments will have extra patrols on the road specifically focused on identifying and apprehending impaired drivers. Our officers will be out to enforce the law and ensure the safety of everyone on the road. Together, we are sending a clear and united message: impaired driving will not be tolerated,” he said.