New Law Addresses Issue of Sleep Deprived Drivers

(THOROFARE-GLOUCESTER COUNTY)—As part of a series of efforts to keep families and their children safe, Governor James E. McGreevey today signed Senate Bill S-1644, which is known as “Maggie’s Law.”  

Maggie’s Law imposes jail time and fines as much as $150,000 for sleep deprived drivers who cause a fatal accident.  The bill was drafted after 20 year-old Maggie McDonnell was killed by a driver who fell asleep behind the wheel in 1997.

“Today in the memory of Maggie McDonnell, we are closing the legal loophole that allowed sleep deprived drivers to take a life and get away with it,” McGreevey said.  “At just 20 years old, Maggie was just beginning her life as an adult, when it was recklessly taken away from her and came to a screeching halt.”

The Governor was joined by members of the McDonnell family, including Maggie’s mother Carole who spoke on her daughter’s behalf.

“I can only imagine the shock and disgust of Maggie’s friends and family, when this man was cleared of vehicular manslaughter and slapped with a meaningless $200 fine,” said McGreevey.  “On that day, undeniably, justice was not served.”

Before the enactment of Maggie’s Law, driving while sleep fatigued was not considered reckless driving and therefore did not fall under the category of vehicular homicide.  In Maggie McDonnell’s case, 48 year-old Michael Coleman was awake for over 30 hours and was given a fine of $200.

In court Coleman admitted that he had fallen asleep at the wheel causing him to hit Maggie’s car head on.  However, he argued that falling asleep at the wheel was not a crime and was acquitted of reckless driving and vehicular homicide.

“The bottom line of this bill is to educate and promote awareness of how dangerous it is to drive while knowingly fatigued,” said Senator Stephen M. Sweeney (D-Salem, Cumberland, Gloucester).  "This day was made possible through the dedication and efforts of Maggie's mom, Carol McDonnell."

Research has shown that the effects of sleep deprivation are similar to those of alcohol.  Sleeplessness increases attention lapses, while slowing reaction time and cognitive processing.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates at least 100,000 crashes, 71,000 injuries and 1,500 deaths each year in the United States are the result of drivers falling asleep.

Governor McGreevey has made it a top priority to protect children since taking office.  New Jersey is now the first in the Nation to have such legislation.

Photos and audio and video clips from Governor McGreevey’s press conferences are available on the Governor’s web page at http://www.state.nj.us/governor/.

Links are located in the Governor’s Newsroom section of the page.