I think it would be too difficult to enforce an actual ban on driving drowsy since it would be very hard to measure. A person could simply deny a certain level of fatigue and short of expensive brain wave tests, there would be little way to verify the drowsiness. Also, so many people take medications that can potentially cause drowsiness, a chunck of the population would be at risk for not being able to ever drive. I think education is the best bet. Few people are aware of the serious dangers of driving while tired and if they had more knowledge of the danger, may plan better so that driving while fatigued can be avoided whenever possible.

Laws are helpful but they can only do so much when they are up against a strong culture that devalues the importance of sleep. In many medical specialties, such as surgery, sleep deprivation is seen as the norm, particularly for budding surgeons. It's seen as a normal part of the training process, and those who admit to being fatigued are sometimes viewed negatively.

I suspect that the cultural devalue of sleep plays a larger role in American society as well. Perhaps it clashes with our Puritan work ethic -- Americans work more hours than anybody in the world! We view sleep as a waste of time...or even worse, a sign of laziness -- when in fact its a vital component of mental and physical health.

If someone knowingly stays up for 24+ hours it should be allowed as a consideration showing lack of judgement. However, just being drowsy in and of itself should not be. Because we can't measure it. If someone in an accident says they were drowsy or the attending officer notices them drifting off, they should be sent for a sleep study, but the results of the study shouldn't be used punitively.

But even then, try *fixing* a sleep problem.

I have problems getting restful sleep. I can sleep for 16 hours and feel no more refreshed than if I slept for 16 minutes. I have been seeing sleep professionals about this for 10 years. 10 years. I had a good patch where my acupuncturist got me to a pretty good state - I was functional and could wake up before noon on weekends. But it took nearly losing my job, heavy medication to treat "symptoms" and about 2 years and 2 seemingly unrelated surgeries to figure out that I wasn't getting restful sleep. So diagnosis took over 2 years. Initial treatment took over 3 years. I was mostly steady for 3 years and now am declining again. I've had 2 inconclusive sleep studies - I don't have apnea, which is both a blessing and a curse because what the heck do I have?

I just had tonsillitis and my swollen tonsils ironically allowed me to breathe better in my sleep than normal. I felt better while sick with tonsillitis than I do otherwise. It turns out that tonsils can be a factor in non-restful sleep and NOT ONE SINGLE SLEEP PROFESSIONAL mentioned this to me in 10 YEARS.

But then, almost every doctor goes through that stupid, wasteful, and counterproductive period of hazing known as residency. They all think sleep deprivation makes you stronger. No wonder sleep problems are not taken seriously, or even thought of, by about 90% of medical professionals. I have no respect whatsoever for the training system that forces student doctors to stay awake and make life altering decisions for people on no sleep. It's worse than drowsy driving. It's institutionalized criminal negligence.

So yeah, I have some strong opinions. But that could be my lack of sleep talking. My most recent ENT doc thinks that my semi-obstructed airway makes it difficult enough for me to breathe that I don't rest well, but it's not so difficult that it shows up as apnea. He thinks he can fix it. I hope he's worth his new BMW. Because I've had 2 weeks in the last 12 years when I woke up feeling rested. But I have never caused a car accident because I'm hypervigilant about driving or I get off the road.

Sometimes we need a law to help us keep the roads safe , but sometimes a mothers loss turns into a crusade to victimize others.

The man who had fallen asleep at the wheel that caused an accident that killed her daughter was found not guilty.
So what do you do next? wear a button and fix the world. But at what cost. The law she nagged NJ lawmakers to enact was meant for people who knowingly stay at the wheel who have been awake for I believe 24 hours.
Unfortunatly not all drowsy drivers fit that bill. Anxiety , traffic , carbon monoxide , borish passenger , constant bright lights and other simple causes have made people feel drowsy at the wheel.
If you should de involved in an accident with a fatality , only a slight hint of drowsiness could land you in jail for manslaugther.
Pehaps while asked by an officer and you cant recall what happened as is the case in ACCIDENTS, the wrong words could have you wondering who the hell is maggie and this damn law.

Mothers! accidents happen, yes we want to blame the world for it , the answer isnt passing laws in your dead daughters name.

Im waiting for the day when a fatal accident is caused by a guy scratching his groin and we outlaw drivers with jock itch calling it sally rotten crotch law