Drug drivers target of gardaí's Easter Bank Holiday road safety campaign
37% increase in drug driving specimens analysed in 2020
Drug drivers target of Easter Bank Holiday road safety campaign
Cannabis most prevalent drug detected
Gardaí report 11% increase in drug driving incidents in first 3 months of 2021
59 people killed and seriously injured in Easter Bank Holiday collisions in last five years
The Road Safety Authority (RSA), An Garda Síochána and the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) are highlighting the dangers of drug driving ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
It comes as new figures from the MBRS show a 37% rise in the number of blood and urine specimens for drugs testing in 2020 compared to 2019.
Of the 4,435 blood and urine specimens tested for drugs, almost three-quarters (72%) were found to be positive for at least one drug.
Cannabis remains the most prevalent drug detected, with three in five tests returning a positive result for the drug.
Analysis also shows increased detection of cocaine use, with between 30% - 40% of specimens provided testing positive for cocaine.
An Garda Síochána figures for the full year 2020 saw 3,988 incidents of drug-driving.
The figure for 2021 up to 31 March 2021 is 997 incidents.
This compares to 899 up to the same period last year.
This represents an 11% increase in drug driving incidents in the first three months of 2021 compared to the first three months of 2020.
Ms Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, said: “The significant increase in the number of specimens being analysed by the MBRS certainly reflects the increased levels of detections being made for drug driving by An Garda Síochána.
"While this is a worrying trend, I believe it is down to a greater focus by the gardaí on this type of dangerous behaviour.
"This greater focus is very welcome. Drivers need to understand that since the introduction of roadside testing for drugs in 2017, the gardaí have the tools to tackle this problem. There is simply no hiding drug driving anymore.”
Professor Denis Cusack, Head of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, said: “The high level of enforcement seen last year has continued into 2021.
"Similar increased numbers of specimens are being received by the Bureau for drugs analysis in the first three months of this year compared to the same time period in 2020.
"While cannabis continues to be the most prevalent drug detected, the increase in specimens testing positive for cocaine is worrying.
"Benzodiazepines, which include many prescribable anti-anxiety medications, continue to be a concern too with about 20% of specimens screened last year resulting in a positive test for benzodiazepines."
Mr Sam Waide, CEO of the RSA, said that: “The figures from the MBRS and An Garda Síochána clearly show that driving under the influence of drugs remains a significant problem in Ireland.
"Some drug drivers incorrectly believe that certain drugs make them better drivers and imagine themselves at low risk of collision.
"They also tend to overestimate their driving ability and show little understanding of how drugs affect their driving.
"Even a small amount of certain drugs can seriously affect a driver’s motor skills, balance and co-ordination, perception, attention, reaction time, and judgement on the roads, putting not only the driver at risk, but also passengers and other road users in danger.”