Gardaí to test motorists for drugs
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.
