Drug driving test needed

The extent of the drug driving problem in Ireland is significantly underestimated, with increased cocaine use a particular concern, the head of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety has warned.

Evidence from Scandinavian countries suggests that for every 100 people detected of drink driving there are another 50 who have taken drugs before driving and Professor Denis Cusack said this level of drug abuse was being experienced in countries across the EU. "Does Ireland or England have less prevalence of drugs than Scandinavian countries? I know from public health studies the answer is no."

Last year the MBRS tested more than 750 drivers for traces of drugs in their system, only a fraction of the number of the 1,460 people tested for drink-driving. Prof Cusack said the Medical Bureau of Road Safety was in discussions with the Road Traffic Corps about training gardai to recognise symptoms of drug intoxication in drivers.

Combating drug driving is hampered by the absence of a single reliable roadside test. "Worldwide there is still no single satisfactory roadside instrument that would cover a sufficient number of drugs in relation to one type of body fluid," Prof Cusack said.

Concern that the extent of drug abuse among drivers was being under-reported has stemmed from the results produced by new enforcement techniques by police forces in Scandinavia. In Sweden, where police are trained to recognise symptoms or behaviours suggesting drug driving, the numbers charged with drug driving last year were 7,400, about half again the 15,700 motorists charged with drink driving.

Prof Cusack said he believes the difference in drug detection rates amongst drivers between Ireland and Scandinavia reflects differences in enforcement rather than different levels of drug abuse. Another difficulty in ascertaining the extent of drug use by drivers is that it is not routine to test a motorist for drugs who has already been found over the alcohol limit. Professor Cusack said two-thirds of drivers who tested positive for one or more drugs had essentially zero levels of alcohol in their blood stream, suggesting that measures designed to combat drink driving would not work against drugs.

While the new Road Traffic Bill makes provision for additional roadside breath tests for alcohol it makes no provision for drug testing. The Minister for Transport Martin Cullen has described drug driving "as a big problem and it is a very serious and a growing problem."

The Minister told The Irish Times he does not underestimate the type of impact drug driving is having on road safety in general, including prescribed drugs.

"It doesn't appear that anyone yet has cracked this issue but we are anxious to move ahead with it because it is a growing issue."