With the goal of making Rhode Island the safest state in the nation for all highway users, the Rhode Island Traffic Safety Coalition has been re-established, combining the talent and dedication of a variety of statewide highway safety advocates. The Coalition is co-chaired by retired State Police Superintendent Steven M. Pare, now Board Chairperson of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), retired Providence Police Colonel Richard Sullivan, representing the driver education program at Community College of Rhode Island, and Cathy Andreozzi, representing the Tori Lynn Andreozzi Foundation. The group's members include representatives of The RI Police Chiefs' Association, MADD, AAA Southern New England, Beacon Mutual Insurance Company, AMICA, MetLife Auto & Home, The Independent Insurance Agents of RI (IIA), the RI Brain Injury Association, The RI State Police, Lifespan Injury Prevention Center, The Coalition represents a partnership model that reflects the fact that highway safety is everyone's business.

"The re-organization of the Traffic Safety Coalition came about as part of the formation of Rhode Island's five-year State Highway Safety Plan," said co-chair Steven M. Pare. "As we organize our efforts, our goal is to have a real impact on both the legislative arena and in educating our citizens." Safety belt use, drunk driving, and teen driving are just a few of the issues the Coalition will discuss at its monthly meetings in Providence, which began last fall.

The stated mission of the Rhode Island Traffic Safety Coalition is to support a collaborative effort to reduce facilities and serious injuries and to ensure the safety of all surface transportation users. A similar coalition existed during the administration of former Governor Lincoln Almond, and was credited for helping to obtain the passage of several pieces of traffic safety legislation, including the state Graduated Driving License (GDL) law for teen drivers, open container, and .08.