By JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
SAYREVILLE – A mother has turned her grief into a mission to help save the lives of the motoring public.
April 6 marked the sixth anniversary of the signing of Sara’s Law by Gov. Chris Christie, which developed the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) registry for next-of-kin emergency notification.
Sara’s Law, named for Sara Dubinin, a 19-year-old Sayreville resident who was killed in a 2007 car accident, created the next-of-kin registry to prompt emergency responders to contact the family members of an injured person who is incapacitated.
Betty Dubinin, Sara’s mother, only found out that her daughter was involved in the fatal accident when a friend of Sara’s called two hours after the accident to inquire how Sara was doing, according to a previous article published in the Suburban.
Dubinin eventually reached out to state Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) to tell her story, which ultimately resulted in the creation of Sara’s Law.
In recognition of the anniversary, Dubinin will be placing signs around Sayreville reminding drivers to “Slow Down for Sara,” and the Sayreville Police Department has placed a traffic sign on Ernston Road with information about Sara’s Law.
Bill A4573 has passed the Assembly and will be voted on next month by the Senate Transportation Committee as Bill S2966. If passed, it will create a National Motor Vehicle Emergency Contact Registry.
“If it passes in New Jersey, the registry will be available across the nation, not only in New Jersey,” Dubinin said. “Car dealers are working with us to offer this registry to their customers.”