At least one law added to the books by the General Assembly is a good one. We're talking about a ban on "blocking the box."
The rule, which took effect Jan. 1, makes it illegal to get stuck in the middle of an intersection after a traffic light has turned green, thus blocking traffic from moving through the intersection from other directions. If you've been involved in gridlocked traffic, it's likely that the tie-up started with someone blocking the box.
Of course, the effectiveness of the legislation will depend on just how aggressive enforcement is. Without giving out fines, there won't be any improvement on the streets.
A good place to start would be with R.I. Public Transit Authority buses. Pick your intersection, but one in which RIPTA buses consistently block traffic is where Exchange Street crosses Memorial Boulevard in Providence. Congestion at that intersection is particularly troubling, because it has the potential to block traffic up all the way onto Interstate 95, which would be a significant safety risk. And one that should not happen ever. •