Local gardaí are reminding that you never drive while under any form of influence.
The number of motorists testing positive for cocaine and cannabis across Carlow and Kilkenny jumped by 88% last year compared to 2019.
It’s been labelled a ‘major problem’ by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, which is working alongside Gardai to prepare a tender for new advanced testing devices.
Speaking to KCLR news Divisional Roads Policing Inspector for Carlow and Kilkenny Mr Paul Donohoe said it’s a very worrying trend, noting “Nationally they’ve given a figure of 77% increase in drug-driving into 2020 compared to 2019 and in our figures in the counties of Kilkenny and Carlow we actually have an 88% increase in drug-driving over the two years, so we’re seeing a really big dramatic increase in drug-driving”.
He attributes some of the detections to the fact “We have new technology, we have new oral fluid tests that we are now carrying out at all mandatory checkpoints and people are involved in accidents and so forth so we have the technology now to find drugs”.
Inspector Donohoe adds “Never, ever take drink or drugs when you drive, also if people know that someone has taken drink or drugs I think you are in a position to tell them not to drive and intervene there where possible to keep all our people safe on the roads and all our road users”.
