Road Safety Campaign raising awareness of the consequences of driving under the influence of drugs. This campaign wanted to raise awareness of the fact that you can be tested for drug driving by An Garda Síochána at the roadside or in garda stations. There is no hiding drug driving.

An Garda Síochána have the power to test the oral fluid of drivers for the presence of cannabis, cocaine, opiates (e.g. morphine) and benzodiazepines (e.g. Valium) at the roadside or in a garda station. This testing is done on a Drager 5000 drug tester device. The campaign includes short videos which demonstrate how drug testing is carried out at the roadside and the consequences should a driver be caught driving under the influence of drugs.

Facts:

• Research from 2013-2017 shows that 29% of drivers killed had a positive toxicology for drugs
• Over 2,550 drivers have been arrested to date in 2022 on suspicion of drug driving. That’s an average of around 54 drivers (54.3) arrested each week this year for driving under the influence of drugs.
• In 2021 the Medical Bureau of Road Safety tested 4,321 specimens for drugs and 3,412 (78%) specimens were confirmed to have a drug present. While alcohol still remains the most frequently detected intoxicant in driving in Ireland, cannabis is the secondly most frequently found intoxicant and its detection in drivers is continuing to increase, with cocaine being the third most commonly found intoxicant drug detected

Download and read our Driving under the influence of Drugs booklet.

Please see frequently asked questions on preliminary drug testing