Gardaí to test motorists for drugs

DRIVERS under the influence of drugs are to be targeted through an expanded testing system and new “drug symptom recognition” courses for gardaí.

The Medical Bureau of Road Safety, which receives about 3,700 blood and urine samples from drivers every year, is planning to test all of them for seven drug types. These samples are provided to gardaí by motorists suspected of drink or drug-driving.

Currently, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety only tests samples for drugs if they are under the legal limit for alcohol or if gardaí are suspicious about the driver. Of 388 such samples tested last year, 117 showed traces of drugs. “Obviously, there would be great concern about drugs which are illegal such as cannabis, cocaine and heroin. But everybody has to be aware that any drug which has an effect on driving must be taken with great caution, even if it’s on prescription,” bureau director Professor Denis Cusack said.

New training courses are planned for next year to give gardaí the skills to spot signs of drug use in drivers. “They are very good at picking up intoxication, but it’s been recognised they need to develop skills in drug recognition,” Professor Cusack said.

Drugs such as cannabis can reduce reaction times and co-ordination, while cocaine and ecstasy act as stimulants, making drivers overconfident and more prone to taking risks. In Britain, research shows that one in four fatal car accidents involves a driver using illicit drugs.

No similar research has been carried out here, but the National Safety Council believes there is a link between drug-taking and the high number of road accidents in the dark hours of the weekend.

“One of the highest groups out at this time is the 17 to 25-year-old male and obviously, the pub scene is part of this as well. There has been an increase in the number of single-vehicle crashes and we feel that there is linkage there (with drug-driving) yet to be established but which certainly gives rise to suspicion,” chief executive Pat Costello said.

However, the expansion of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety’s testing programme is very much dependent on the funding. The 17 staff at the bureau are already fully occupied with the existing level of testing.

There are also other potential methods of tackling the problem. In some US states, police test the drivers for drugs by getting them to walk on lines of chalk and touch their head and toes. The British government is proposing to provide police with drugalysers to carry out roadside checks on drivers. The Royal Automobile Club of Ireland has called for the introduction of a similar system.