Drug-driving reaching an ‘alarming scale’

THE head of the Road Safety Authority has described the potential scale of drug-driving in Ireland as “alarming” as it emerged that 1,444 motorists tested positive for drugs last year.

RSA chief executive Noel Brett said research indicated drug driving could be a serious problem as 6% of young motorists admitted driving under the influence of recreational drugs.

The RSA survey of 1,000 people aged 17-34 also highlighted how 22% admitted they had been a passenger in a car driven by someone under the influence of drugs.