The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates drowsy driving causes at least 100,000 police-reported crashes and kills more than 1,550 Americans yearly. Interestingly, all states have laws to enforce drunken driving, but few have laws to cite a driver who has fallen asleep and cause an accident.
Only New Jersey defines drowsy driving as recklessness under a vehicular homicide statute. Known as “Maggie’s Law,” New Jersey’s drowsy driving law has raised awareness of the consequences of fatigue behind the wheel and has spurred significant action in other states. There are now at least eight states with 12 pending bills that address fatigued driving in various ways.
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