Thousands driving under influence of drugs, TD claims

Roadside devices to detect drugs use by motorists are to be introduced next year, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar has told the Dáil.

He said a procurement process will start “in the coming months” for the provision of roadside devices to detect drugs.

Mr Varadkar also told the Dáil that the next road traffic Bill, to be introduced in 2014, “will strengthen the legal provisions relating to driving in an impaired state as a consequence of taking drugs”.

He was responding to his party colleague Paul Connaughton who said "there are a huge number of people driving every day under the influence of illicit drugs, but there are also many thousands driving around while extremely impaired through the use of legal drugs".

Mr Connaughton expressed alarm that no comprehensive roadside drug testing mechanism existed despite a 2008 study by Hibernian Insurance which found that one in three young drivers in Ireland had driven under the influence of drugs.

The Galway East TD said increased drug use was a facet of modern life. He pointed out that huge resources had been invested in combating legal drugs such as alcohol but to date little attention has been paid to the multitude of drivers on Irish roads under the influence of stimulants and sedatives.

“Whether it is Valium, Xanax, morphine or codeine, to date those drivers have faced little prospect of detection, while undeniably being a serious menace on our roads,” he said.

Mr Connaughton welcomed the introduction of preliminary impairment testing to identify drug driving “which hopefully will result in further decreases in the number of lives wasted on our roads”.

He was speaking during debate on the Road Traffic (No 2) Bill which cuts the penalty points disqualification limit from 12 to six for novice drivers.

Motorists qualified for less than two years will be required to carry an ‘N-plate’ on their vehicle. The legislation also allows for blood to be taken from an incapacitated driver after a collision.

The Minister has also accepted an amendment from Fianna Fáil transport spokesman Timmy Dooley allowing harsher jail and financial penalties for drivers who leave the scene of a crash.

The Bill now goes to committee stage.