Drug driving legislation expected by summer

Legislation to tackle drug driving should be published by the summer, after the Cabinet on Tuesday agreed the general scheme of the Road Traffic Bill 2015.

Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe said the Bill is necessary for improving safety on the State's roads.

“The Bill will focus on addressing the problem of driving while under the influence of drugs, which evidence indicates is a serious issue,” Mr Donohoe said.

“After many years of reductions, deaths on our roads increased in 2013, with a further increase again in 2014. This is a worrying development and underlines the need to keep up pressure on a wide variety of fronts to reduce these unnecessary tragedies on our roads,” he said.

The new legislation will provide for testing for drugs at roadside, meaning gardaí at checkpoints will be able to test for alcohol and drugs, rather than alcohol alone. A new device for testing for drugs will be procured in the coming months.

The Bill will also address a number of other road safety issues, the Minister said. “These include the creation, for the first time, of a register of written-off vehicles, a number of adjustments to the penalty points system, and legislative underpinning for new arrangements with the UK on mutual recognition of driving disqualifications.”

The general scheme of the Bill will now be submitted to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for formal drafting, with a view to publication in the summer.

It will also be immediately referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications for consideration.