Cabinet approves bill for drug screening on roads
New measures are to be introduced to allow for drug testing at all road accidents.
Currently, Gardaí can only test for alcohol, but the Medical Bureau of Road Safety is to bring in a new device that will allow for drug testing.
Between 2007 and 2013, 7 in every 10 specimens examined by the Bureau tested positive for drugs.
It is hoped the move will help reduce the number of road deaths.
The government today decided to approve, in general, the Road Traffic Bill 2015, which will form the backbone of the new measures. It is due to be published in the summer.
The bill will also allow for the creation of a register off written-off vehicles, changes to the penalty point system, and the possibility of an agreement with the UK to recognise disqualified drivers between the two nations.
"We have made great strides in recent years in improving the law on driving under the influence of alcohol, and it is time to bring the law on drug driving into line with this," said Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe.
"The measures against drug driving, and the other measures proposed in this Bill, offer concrete advances which will contribute towards the overall goal of making our roads safer for all road-users."
