Under a new law, gardaí will soon be able to use handheld devices to test drivers for drugs. The announcement comes as the Road Safety Authority (RSA) marked a day of remembrance for victims of road crashes all across the world yesterday.
Currently, it is an offence to drive under the influence of drugs but it is up to gardai to prove that in court.
Last year, a driver in Cork, who admitted to smoking two joints of cannabis, had his case dismissed due to lack of evidence.
New legislation will enable gardaí conduct roadside tests for drugs, like a breathalyser test. The Medical Bureau of Road Safety is in the process of buying the devices, which are expected to be in use by the end of 2015.
Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe said the development will bring clarity to the area for the first time.
“By bringing in this legislation, we will be able to underpin the use of devices by roadsides, make them mandatory and put them on a completely solid legal footing,” he said.
Mr Donohoe is bringing details of the Road Traffic Bill 2014 to cabinet for approval in the next few weeks.
To date, 23,596 people have been killed on Irish roads since records began in 1959, with a further 76,586 receiving serious, life-changing injuries between 1977 and 2013.
So far this year there have been 166 road deaths.
Source: Kelly O'Brien, Irish Examiner, 17/11/14
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