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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Carraro
DATE TYPED 02/16/2005 HB
SHORT TITLE
Study Driving While Drowsy
SJM 51
ANALYST Moser
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY05
FY06
FY05
FY06
NFI
NFI
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Joint Memorial 51 asks the Department of Transportation to study the issue of drowsy
driving and how it relates to motor vehicle crashes
.
Significant Issues
There currently is very little New Mexico crash data on drowsy driving. This is true at the na-
tional level as well. Although there is a category (driver fatigue) under “driver’s condition” on
the NM crash report, it is seldom used. This is because after a crash occurs, law enforcement
relies on (among other things) observations and testimony to determine the cause of the crash.
By the time law enforcement arrives, drivers are usually wide awake because of the incident and
do not admit to being tired or fatigued. Therefore, it is difficult for law enforcement to deter-
mine that the crash was due to driver fatigue. This issue is very similar to the “driving with a
cell phone” issue. It is likely that it happens much more often than it is reported and docu-
mented, but because it is difficult for law enforcement to prove, many of these crashes get
lumped into the category of “driver inattention.”