Gardaí must test drivers for drugs at serious traffic collisions

New Government legislation that came into effect from Friday, May 31, will now see Gardaí carry out mandatory drug tests at the roadside on drivers involved in serious road traffic collisions. 

A similar requirement is in place where testing for alcohol is carried out in the same circumstances, however, drugs testing was at the discretion of Gardaí. 

Last week, the Waterford News & Star reported that Gardaí intervened in a situation that could potentially have caused serious harm to other road users during their morning commute as two young, male drivers raced each other on the N25 Waterford Bypass. Following roadside drugs testing, they tested positive for cocaine and cannabis respectively. 

Speaking recently on the matter, Garda Inspector Paul Donohue of the traffic division indicated how important roadside testing is for Gardaí, considering how "prevalent" drugs are now in Waterford and in society in general. 

The tests will take 30 minutes at most, but on average take just eight minutes, allowing time for retests where necessary.

"The signing of the ‘mandatory drug testing’ provisions into law is an important milestone in our response to the trends we are witnessing on our roads," said Junior Minister for Transport, Jack Chambers.

"Driving under the influence is one of the four main causes of road fatalities and it is simply unacceptable," he added.