Random roadside drug testing for drivers urged

RANDOM ROADSIDE drug testing for drivers should be introduced immediately to make it easier to prosecute motorists under the influence of drugs, a conference for Garda sergeants and inspectors has heard.

Sgt Trish Gill from Dublin city’s south central division told delegates at the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (Agsi) that roadside testing technology had progressed to such an extent in recent years that a drugs saliva test was now available to police forces.

She said even if a driver was clearly under the influence of drugs when stopped by gardaí, the exact level and type of drug in the driver’s system needed to be ascertained to ground a prosecution.

“Recent instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions states that evidence of a controlled drug in the blood is not a sufficient basis for a prosecution,” she told delegates.

“Essentially, there must be clear evidence that the person was affected by the drug to such an extent as not to be in proper control of the vehicle.”

She said both medication and illicit drugs could negatively affect driving in many different ways, including impaired concentration, poor vision and an inability to properly judge speed and distance.

Drug-driving was a major issue and needed to be tackled immediately with roadside testing similar to alcohol breath tests.

“Random alcohol testing has proven to be a success in reducing accidents. Random testing will have an additional effect on the overall consumption of drugs, as it has had on alcohol in some instances.”

Sgt Paul McDermott from the Roscommon-Longford Garda division told delegates that Agsi should take legal action to secure full trade union status and should bring its case to Europe if necessary.

Currently all associations representing members of the force are representative organisations rather than trade unions.

This means they cannot directly participate in talks with the Government on pay or public sector reform.

Garda members are also banned from striking.

Sgt McDermott said Agsi should take a constitutional challenge to the Supreme Court in relation to the Garda Síochána Act, which denies the association trade union status.