Special Report: Drowsy drivers

Amy Huthee/Robert's Fiancée
"He was a dedicated honorable man, who cared deeply for the army, for his country, and his family."

The cause of all three tragedies? Drivers falling asleep at the wheel.

We all know the risks of driving drunk. But experts say driving drowsy can be just as dangerous.

The National Sleep Foundation says drowsy driving is a serious problem in the US...100,000 crashes a year can be blamed on fatigue.... Leading to more than 15-hundred deaths...

Darrel Drobnich, National Sleep Foundation
"It's a much larger problem than most people believe."

Like with alcohol, fatigue slows your reaction time, decreases awareness, and impairs your judgement.

Darrel Drobnich, National Sleep Foundation
"You don't have to fall asleep to be dangerous on the road. Just like a little bit of alcohol can impair your performance, fatigue can affect your performance as well."

Now state senator Richard Moore of Uxbridge has introduced a new bill that would institute harsher penalties on those who drive drowsy.

Senator Richard Moore, Uxbridge (D)
"People need to think about how serious it is to be drowsy and get behind the wheel."

The driver who struck and killed robert... Got off with a loss of license and probation.

Senator Richard Moore, Uxbridge (D)
"They have taken a life by being irresponsible. That's a pretty modest penalty and that needs to be upgraded."

Under the new bill, drowsy drivers could face jail time. Something Robert’s fiancée Amy hopes will make others think twice before getting behind the wheel.

Amy Huthee/Robert's fiancée
"The loss of life and the affect it has on the family and the community it's just hard to put into words. I really feel if you've committed a crime like this, you should be punished more severely."

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