New Preliminary Roadside Drug Driving Testing Device In Use Today

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A new preliminary roadside drug driving testing device, which can test for a greater range of drugs comes into use today. Garda using the new Securetec® Drugwipe 6s roadside drug testing device can test for Cannabis, Cocaine, Benzodiazepines, Opiates and in addition for Amphetamine and Methamphetamine. In 2021 there were 4,321 samples tested for intoxicants.  While alcohol still remains the most frequently detected intoxicant in driving in Ireland, cannabis is the second most frequently found intoxicant and its detection in drivers is continuing to increase, with cocaine being the third most commonly found intoxicant drug detected.

An Garda Síochána’s Christmas and New Year’s road safety campaign will run from today until 3rd January 2023. This campaign will focus on locations and times where fatal and serious injury collisions have occurred over the last 12 years. Research by the RSA and An Garda Síochána revealed that over the last five years there were 86 fatalities and 765 serious injuries over the Christmas and New Year period. 

146 people have died on the roads to date in 2022 – this represents an increase of 27 on the same day last year. Separately, 1,174 people were seriously injured on our roads this year up to 27 November 2022.