Drugged drivers - A timely initiative

WITH illegal drugs readily available in every city, town and village in the country, and legal drugs readily available over the counter, the decision to give gardaí new powers and training to crack down on drug driving is to be applauded.

As the latest research shows, the behaviour of people driving under the influence of drugs is every bit as problematic as that caused by drink driving. The very fact that our traffic laws are geared more towards coping with alcohol than drugs underlines the need for a broader range of methods to deal with driver impairment.

The necessary powers are already in the Road Traffic Act 2010, due to be signed into law within weeks. Because of the sheer range of legal and illegal drugs, gardaí will be trained to assess driver coordination to detect drugs, whereas breath tests will still be used to test drink drivers.