A petition signed by 20,000 people calling for the testing of drivers for drink and drugs in order to reduce road deaths was delivered to the Government yesterday.
Susan Grey, whose husband was among the many people killed on the roads in the Inishowen area of Co Donegal, and anti-drug campaigner PJ Blake organised the signatures in an effort to ensure drivers are tested for drink and drugs.
Mr Blake said yesterday the group was looking for compulsory testing for drink and drugs at the scene of accidents, as well as random testing.
The petition was also forwarded to the chairman of the Road Safety Authority, Gay Byrne.
Mr Blake, a former councillor in Letterkenny, said police in Northern Ireland test for drugs in road collisions and have found a 34 per cent increase in drug- driving in 2004/2005. He said he tried to get figures for the South and was unsuccessful as tests are not done.