The high incidence of drugs, both legal and illegal, in drivers tested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated was highlighted at an Oireachtas committee yesterday.
The first round-table discussion on road safety was attended by representatives of Government, An Garda Síochána, and interested organisations at the Joint Committee on Transport.
Prof Denis Cusack of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, which tests intoxicants in driving, said that in one test, 2,000 samples were taken from people arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving.
Of these, approximately 1,000 were over the limit for alcohol and nearly half, 467, had another drug other than alcohol.
He said that they had also done tests on other samples which did not test positive for alcohol but tested for traces of drugs.
Questioned by Ms Róisín Shortall TD (Lab) as to why there could not be a test for the amount of drugs as with alcohol, Prof Cusack said it was a very difficult area as it did not relate to the quantity of drug taken but the level of impairment. It was not so much the presence of the drug as how much it impaired driving and how it affected behaviour.
Prof Cusack said one of the functions of the bureau was to undertake research on drinking and drugs in relation to driving.
"One of the areas we will have to look at is how doctors assess drivers for safety when they are on medication, and how much medication could impair a driver," Prof Cusack said.
The drugs found could vary from illegal drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy, people on methadone, or taking prescribed drugs.
The Minister of State for Transport, Mr McDaid, said the Medical Bureau was currently undertaking research into the issue of drugs and driving, the results of which should be available later this year.
The Garda Assistant Commissioner, Mr Tony Hickey, said there was provision for a garda who suspected a driver of intoxicated driving, to call in a doctor to test for drugs.
Mr Conor Faughnan, Automobile Association said: "The issue of drugs and driving is a major area where research is required. We know nothing about the effects of a whole range of drugs, legal and illegal."
Mr Eddie Shaw of the National Safety Council said there was no such thing as a dangerous road, just inappropriate speeds, and suspicion of alcohol and drug abuse were the primary causes of death and injury on the roads. Over 90 per cent of crashes were caused by road user error.
The forum was instigated by the Irish Insurance Federation. Yesterday, Mr Mike Kemp, chief executive, called for the early adoption of the new National Road Safety strategy and stressed the importance of both law enforcement in improving the road safety record and the Government seeing road safety as an investment. Another submission was made by Mr James Doorley for the National Youth Council who said the new Road Safety strategy should be radical, embrace new ideas, approaches, technologies and be properly funded.