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.  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. 

This month, the state of New Jersey passed Maggie's Law, landmark legislation, which imposes jail time and fines as high as $150,000 for sleep-deprived drivers who cause a fatal crash. The bill was drafted after 20 year-old Maggie McDonnell was killed by a driver who fell asleep behind the wheel in 1997.

Before the enactment of Maggie's Law, driving while 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.