ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 183

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 11, 1997

By Assemblymen DeCROCE and BODINE

An Assembly Resolution establishing "Safe Driver Awareness Weeks."

Whereas, Driver fatigue contributes significantly to traffic accidents that result in death and serious injury to New Jersey motorists and pedestrians; and

Whereas, The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that driver fatigue is responsible for over 100,000 crashes nationally per year which kill 1,500 people and injure 71,000 people and is the cause of at least 138 motor vehicle fatalities annually in New Jersey; and

Whereas, Drivers must perform a series of coordinated tasks using their hands, feet, eyes, ears and body movements to drive safely and defensively and effective performance of such tasks may be affected by fatigue; and

Whereas, Driver fatigue and impairment is often caused by excessive driving and the forgoing of necessary sleep in order to meet unreasonable deadlines and schedules; and

Whereas, Driver fatigue and impairment may often be caused or worsened by the use of substances other than alcohol, which may include herbal remedies, "designer drugs" and sedating medications, both prescription and over-the-counter; and

Whereas, Citizens Against Drug Impaired Drivers reports that of the approximately 43,000 annual motor vehicle fatalities in the United States, 10,000 to 15,000 fatalities involve the use of substances other than alcohol; and

Whereas, The law enforcement community of New Jersey is united in its opposition to drivers' use of any substance to the extent that it might impair driving performance; and

Whereas, The New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety has been vigilant in its efforts to keep the motoring public informed of the dangers of driving impaired as a result of excessive fatigue or the use of sedating substances, and should be commended for its efforts; and

Whereas, The division is actively involved in training and certifying law enforcement officers designated as drug recognition experts, who will evaluate drivers suspected of impaired driving due to the use of substances and remove such drivers from the roads; and

Whereas, New Jersey law presently provides specific penalties for persons who drive under the influence of alcohol and narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drugs, but does not, unlike many other states, provide specific penalties for those who drive impaired or fatigued due to the improper use of other substances or provide for the removal of these persons from the road; and

Whereas, It is fitting and proper, in the interest of public safety, to periodically call to the special attention of the drivers of New Jersey the dangers of driving while fatigued, sedated or otherwise impaired and the potential for various substances, which, when consumed prior to driving a motor vehicle, to impair the driver's ability to safely maneuver that vehicle; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    The weeks immediately preceding the driving holidays of Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and New Year's Day are hereby declared "Safe Driver Awareness Weeks" in the State of New Jersey. The General Assembly urges that all necessary actions be taken by the appropriate State agencies to publicize these special weeks and, within the limitations of their existing resources, to inform and educate the public throughout the year on the dangers of driving while fatigued or under the influence of any substance.

STATEMENT

    The General Assembly, through this Assembly Resolution, declares that the weeks immediately preceding the "driving" holidays of Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and New Year's Day be designated as "Safe Driver Awareness Weeks in New Jersey."

     The reason for establishing these special weeks, as stated in the resolution, is to heighten public awareness of the dangers posed by driver fatigue and by impaired driver response brought about by the use of substances. While the perils of driving under the influence of alcohol are well publicized, the resolution notes that an alarming number of crashes, injuries and fatalities are attributable to fatigue and impairment caused by the use of other substances. The resolution further observes that safe driving demands total alertness and driver attention to the road.

    The resolution recognizes and commends the efforts of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety to increase public awareness of the danger of impaired driving and to encourage the training of law enforcement officers as drug recognition experts.

    The resolution urges all appropriate State agencies to publicize "Safe Driver Awareness Week" and, within the limitations of existing resources, to take all actions necessary throughout the year to inform and educate the public on the dangers of driving while fatigued or while impaired by any substance.