The Police Service of Northern Ireland has unveiled new drug-detection kits, enabling officers to check for cannabis and cocaine at the roadside.
The DrugWipes will be used by specially trained officers as part of an initial 12 month pilot programme.
The roadside kit uses a mouth swab, with and a red line appearing if the person has taken the drugs.
It is in addition to the existing testing available for alcohol levels.
Assistant chief constable Melanie Jones, who is responsible for the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Operational Support Department, said: “Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will drastically increase the risk of causing a collision.
“Since January, sadly 46 people have lost their lives on our roads. That number is far too high and we must work together to keep each other safe.
“These DrugWipes will allow us to target those using illegal drugs while driving and ensure they face the full rigours of the law for their lack of care for the safety of fellow citizens.
“We are committed to continually improving road safety and robustly challenging those who recklessly risk the safety of road users and the wider public.
“We all share the responsibility to keep ourselves and other road users safe.”
The Government in Northern Ireland recently launched a new Road Safety Strategy to 2030, which includes a review of current drug-driving legislation.
John O’Dowd, Northern Ireland’s Infrastructure Minister, said: “The launch of this roadside drugs-test tool is timely.
“In the North, the death rate on our roads is, on average, one per week. It’s a shocking statistic and the devastation every road death leaves in its wake knows no boundaries.
“In 2023, 11 people were killed in road traffic collisions where alcohol or drugs were attributed.
“As road users we must do everything we can – both individually and collectively – to reduce road deaths.
“The addition of roadside drug detection to the PSNI tool kit to the fight against illegal road behaviours will hopefully make people think before driving under the influence of drugs.”
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