News & Info
Mandatory drug testing for drivers involved in serious collisions
31st May, 2024
New testing to come into effect ahead of June Bank Holiday weekend.
From 1 June 2024, Gardaí will have a requirement to test drivers involved in serious road traffic collisions for the presence of drugs in their system.
This will be in addition to the mandatory alcohol testing requirement for motorists involved in collisions.
According to Department of Transport, there has been an increase in drug driving incidents over recent years. The change in law is intended to ensure that all motorists who drive under the influence of drugs and are involved in a collision are detected.
Driving while intoxicated is one of the three main causes of road fatalities, along with speeding, driver distraction and not wearing a seatbelt.
Paul Tracey, Managing Partner at Tracey Solicitors LLP, expressed hope that the mandatory drug testing will help to reduce drug driving incidents.
“Anything that improves the safety of our roads, and reduce reckless behaviour that puts lives at risk, is a step in the right direction. We hope that the volume of drug driving accidents we’ve seen over the past few years starts to decrease, and that accidents can be prevented with this new initiative,” he said.
If you have been involved in an accident with an intoxicated driver, contact us to speak to our specialist road traffic accident solicitors.
Paul Tracey is the Founder and Managing Partner at Tracey Solicitors LLP. Paul qualified as a solicitor in 1982, so he brings a wealth of expertise to his clients. As a Managing Partner of the firm, Paul is the driving force behind our client centric approach and is absolutely committed to making law accessible to all.